The traditional models of Yolngu commerce have been eroded over the last century. The Yothu Yindi Foundation sees a need to create a new model that serves both the requirements of traditional communities and western financial markets and institutions. The Foundation recognises that organisations that ask questions like “What can we do today to make sure our kids will be productive 20 years from now?” will be best equipped to create businesses that are sustainable from a community and environmental perspective and boost the spirit of the community.

The east Arnhem Land region is full of artists, entertainers, artisans, storytellers, philosophers and academics of traditional knowledge. By developing mechanisms that allow development to occur in a manner appropriate to Yolngu wellbeing and the wellbeing of Yolngu country, the Foundation promotes Yolngu self-empowerment and self-governance. The Foundation provides the community with support in creating, marketing, protecting and maintaining their intellectual property, culture and country while engaging in the broader economic sphere. In this way, financially sustainable businesses are created in the community, using local assets and culturally-appropriate practices.

The YYF was established in 1990 by Elders from five of the Yolngu clans, the Gumatj, Rirratjingu, Djapu, Galpu and Wangurri clans. The Garma Festival is the centrepiece of YYF’s vision. One of the key objectives of YYF is to support and further the maintenance, development, teaching and enterprise potential of Yolngu cultural life. In addition to the Garma Festival, the Foundation has instigated a number of other related projects which achieve its aims.

One of the key objectives of the Yothu Yindi Foundation is to support and further the maintenance, development, teaching and enterprise potential of Yolngu cultural life.

The Foundation is also working with Australian universities to develop the Garma Cultural Studies Institute at the Gulkula site to facilitate a further sharing of traditional Yolngu and contemporary Western knowledge.

The Foundation launched the Yirrnga Music Development Centre at Gunyangara at the 1999 Garma Festival. The state of the art recording studio fosters local musicians and songwriting through mentoring programs and accredited courses in association with Charles Darwin University. A major recording deal for new artists was signed with Mushroom Records to record and document traditional song cycles has begun.

The Yothu Yindi Foundation is a not-for-profit Aboriginal charitable corporation with charitable status. All Garma Festival attendance fees and other revenues received go to the operation of the Foundation's programs and projects, such as Garma, to achieve the following outcomes

• Encouraging and developing economic opportunities for Yolngu through education, training, employment and enterprise development
• Sharing knowledge and culture, thereby fostering greater understanding between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians
• Nurturing and maintaining of Yolngu cultural traditions and practices

Garma is one of Australia's most significant cultural exchange events, a key educational forum, and now an award-winning model for authentic, insightful Indigenous tourism.

More than 200 Yolngu are directly employed or trained at Garma each year.