An indigenous Australian elder has broken with centuries-old tradition in the hope of preserving a piece of his people's culture and heritage.
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Despite Aboriginal custom traditionally refusing to allow the faces of people who have died to be shown, highly respected Gagudju elder ''Big'' Bill Neidjie requested that his bone ceremony, or lorrkkon, be captured on film.
The incredibly rare footage was presented to Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies chairman Professor Mick Dodson on Monday afternoon.
In an emotional speech, Professor Dodson said although agreements had been signed, the institute did not own the footage.
''This is your stuff, this is your material, this is your memory, this is your culture, this is your song and dance, your story,'' he said.
''We're just looking after it for you and we're very very proud.''
Professor Dodson described the footage as a ''priceless treasure'' from Kakadu.
Mr Neidjie was the last living speaker of the Gagudju language and Professor Dodson said that with the institute's help, a small part of him and his culture could be preserved.
''There's both tragedy and hope here. Tragedy that so much has been lost; tragedy that with each elder who passes away, a lot of cultural knowledge, wisdom and history goes with them,'' he said. ''But, in a small way, a lot of that is preserved here because of modern technology.''
Canberrans will also have a rare opportunity on Tuesday night to watch a re-enactment of the lorrkkon ceremony in the ACT, the first time it has been performed outside Gagudju country around Kakadu National Park.
After Mr Neidjie died in May 2002, his body was prepared in a traditional Gagudju funeral ceremony, part of which was recorded on film.
His granddaughter, Natasha Neidjie, said his body was placed on a high platform, wrapped in paper bark and left there for four years.
''Then we came back, removed the bark, cleaned the body and painted the bones with our traditional ochre,'' she said.
''We placed them in a box then the grandchildren and children began to travel up into the cave to place him with his ancestors.''
Ms Neidjie said part of her grandfather's desire to have the ritual filmed was to ensure the tradition was remembered, a tradition she one day wants for herself.
''This would be performed once in a blue moon,'' she said. ''There's only a few elders that can still carry this out. I think this is why my grandfather requested that this be recorded in a special way.
''I'd like to have one - at least I've now got the documentation and the knowledge to do that.''