The Wire

A new documentary tells the story of an Indigenous leader and elder, Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda, who was convicted in the 1930’s for killing a policeman who came onto his tribal land, chained up his wife and took her away. For Dhakiyarr, a Yolgnu man from the Northern Territory, to spear and kill the officer was the right thing to do under his own law, but not under White Australian Law. Dhakiyar was convicted in the Northern Territory Supreme Court, and eventually the High Court of Australia overturned the finding and set him free but on the day he was freed Dhakeeyar vanished. The documentary, Dhakiyarr versus the King, traces the powerful journey his descendants take to reconcile his spirit with the land and his people. David Jobling spoke with Dhakiyarr’s grandsons Wuyal and Dhukal who appear in the film, as well as the Director, Tom Murray.

Film Australia Teacher’s Notes