Ramingining, Northern Territory

Ramingining is an Indigenous community in the Northern Territory, Australia, 560 km east of Darwin. It is on the edge of the Arafura Swamp in Arnhem Land. The population is approximately 800 people, though this fluctuates and there is a significant housing shortage.

The community was established in the early 1970s, and became recognised as Aboriginal land with the passage of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act of 1976. A written permit is required to visit Ramingining. The village has an airstrip at Ramingining Airport, a general store, a school, a police station opened in January 2008, and a health clinic with four nurses and a fly in doctor every Tuesday/Wednesday from Nhulunbuy.

Djambarrpuyngu is the main language in Ramingining, though Gupapuyngu and Ganalbingu are also spoken. The village, along with near-by Murwangi, was also the source for many of the actors in the 2006 cinematic production Ten Canoes.

Alcohol is banned in Ramingining. It cannot be consumed by residents or visitors. Kava used to be legally available, but was banned in the entire Northern Territory in August 2007 as a part of the federal government's intervention on indigenous affairs.

Ramingining school is paired with a sister school in Cockatoo, Victoria, Cockatoo Primary School. Exchange visits are organised where groups of Year 5 pupils and accompanying teachers visit Ramingining for a week. A few weeks or months later, Ramingining students from Year 5 and 6 visit Cockatoo Primary School.

A newer program that started in 2009 saw year nine boys from St Kevins College in Victoria visit Ramingining. The two schools are now fully immersed in an exchange program which will benefit both year 9 boys going into Ramingining and year 7-9 students from Ramingining going to Melbourne. Loreto Mandeville Hall in Melbourne, Victoria also does this.

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