One Mind, One Heart (ATOM Study Guide)

One Mind, One Heart chronicles the extraordinary story of the Yirrkala bark petitions, a groundbreaking moment in Australian history that ignited the fight for recognition of Aboriginal rights. In 1963, Yolngu leaders created two bark petitions combining traditional art and legal demands, which were sent to the Australian Parliament. These petitions represented the first legal acknowledgment of Aboriginal land rights and highlighted the community’s resistance to mining activities on their sacred land.

In 2022, a fourth bark petition was discovered in Derby, Western Australia, and its journey back to Yolngu Country became a poignant moment of cultural repatriation.

This event frames the documentary, which explores decades of Yolngu advocacy through petitions, song, dance, and activism. It emphasizes the community’s efforts to preserve their culture, protect their land, and advocate for Indigenous voices in modern Australia.

The documentary is both a tribute to the resilience of the Yolngu people and a call to understand the historical and ongoing struggles of First Nations Australians for justice and recognition. Through interviews with leaders, descendants of petitioners, and historians, the film connects past activism with current movements for Indigenous sovereignty and cultural preservation.

Curriculum Links:

One Heart, One Mind is relevant to students in Years 8–12 in the following learning areas:

• History
• Geography
• Civics and Citizenship

It can also be linked to the following Cross-curriculum priorities and General capabilities:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
• Literacy
• Critical Creative thinking
• Ethical Understanding
• Intercultural Understanding
• Personal and Social Capability

Key themes/topics explored:

• Cultural connection to land
• Colonisation and resistance
• Yirrkala bark petitions
• Environmental impact of minding and development
• Legacy of advocacy