The Goose Hunters of the Arafura Swamp, ca. 1930s

In the 1930s, anthropologist Donald Thomson captured striking photographs of Yolngu men from Ramingining, East Arnhem Land, navigating the Arafura Swamp in traditional canoes. The photos show the men skillfully poling through the water, hunting native geese.

These snapshots of daily life were more than just a moment frozen in time—it was a testament to the Yolngu people’s deep connection to their land, their resourcefulness, and their enduring traditions.

For thousands of years, the Arafura Swamp has been a vital part of Yolngu culture, providing food, water, and spiritual sustenance.

Donald Finlay Fergusson Thomson OBE (June 26, 1901 – May 12, 1970) was an Australian anthropologist and ornithologist. He is known for his studies of and friendship with the Pintupi and Yolngu peoples, and for his intervention in the Caledon Bay crisis.

In 1932–33, as the Caledon Bay crisis erupted, Thomson offered his services to the Australian Government to resolve the crisis, and to the surprise of the government succeeded in doing so. His success had long-term ramifications for the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and is regarded as the crowning achievement of his life.

He formed a strong bond with the Yolngu people, studying their traditional use of the land in the Arafura Swamp and elsewhere. The story of Thomson's interactions with the northern Arnhem Land Ramingining people is told through the eyes of the Indigenous people in Rolf de Heer’s 2009 film Twelve Canoes.