Dadaynga Marika was the younger brother of Mawalan Marika (q.v.) and was a highly regarded Rirratjingu leader in the conservation of Yolngu land.
Dadaynga was one of the signatories to the 'bark petition' to the Federal Parliament in 1963, that asserted the traditional people's ownership of land in the Nabalco case that led to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976, this event provided the groundwork for his life-long fight for Yolngu rights. He was elected president of the Yirrkala Village Council founded by the mission in 1965 and continued on with the replacement Yirrakala Dhambul Community Association until 1990. He was awarded an MBE for his advocacy for Indigenous rights and community work.
Dadayna, was also an artist, however, due to his extensive committments to his community, he was not as prolific as some of his other family members. Dadayna died at the age of 67. (Source National Museum Australia website on http://www.nma.gov.au)
