Vincent Lingiari's Song 'From Little Things, Big Things Grow'

‘From Little Things, Big Things Grow’ is a song representing the Gurindji people and issues they faced. These people were originally small with no say, until Vincent Lingiari (Gurindji spokesman) showed them they had a voice. Originally, the people in Gurindji had their land taken away due to the Europeans, and were forced into unpaid labour on their cattle farms. During this they also endured torture, killings, and sex slavery. However, once Lingiari showed them there was other options, they began strike which lasted for eight years. All people wanted rightfulness returned of their traditional land. Whilst the strike was in place, Lingiari travelled Australia raising awareness of issues face by the Gurindji and Aboriginal people, and strived for recognition of Indigenous rights. By 1975, the government eventually negotiated to return part of Gurindji people’s land back to them. This was an important influence on the Aboriginal land rights acts for Northern Territory, 1976.
‘Gurindji Blues’ is also a song about Vincent Lingiari’s impact, and land rights relating to the Gurindji people.
The song evaluates the living conditions of the Gurindji people, and the governments lack of consideration to the issues they faced, and equality laws in
place.