NLC Chair

Samuel Bush-Blanasi is a resident of the Wugularr (Beswick) community in the Katherine region. He was raised by a Mayili man, the late Mr David Blanasi, whom he thanks for his education and for instilling in him strong cultural and traditional values.

Mr Bush-Blanasi’s mother was from the Blue Mud Bay region in east Arnhem Land and was a claimant in the Blue Mud Bay case which was decided by the High Court in 2008.  As a result, Aboriginal Traditional Owners now own more than 85 per cent of the Northern Territory intertidal zone.

Mr Bush-Blanasi was educated in his own community before completing studies at Kormilda College in Darwin. He’s an accomplished artist, and was  a founding member of the Association of Northern, Kimberley and Arnhem Aboriginal Artists (ANKAAA), the peak advocacy and support agency for Aboriginal artists across the Top End.  He was also a founder of Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABBA).

Mr Bush-Blanasi has a long record of service on boards of several other Aboriginal bodies, and is a current board member of the Aboriginal Investment Group.

This is his sixth term at the NLC, and second term as chairman.