Mandaka Marika

Indigenous community and land conservation advocate

2025 NT Local Hero Nominee

Mandaka (Sam) Marika, a Rirratjingu man from North-East Arnhem Land, stands as a leader in sustainable, cultural land practices.  

Chosen by his Rirratjingu clan to be one of the first rangers in 1992, Sam has led the management of Indigenous protected areas and delivered sustainable land management outcomes for traditional owners for over 30 years. 

Concerned about plastic debris from foreign fishing activity washing up on beaches across northern Australia, Mandaka worked with Sea Shepherd on their marine debris campaign. 

And together with other prominent community men, Mandaka in 2004 initiated the Larrpan foot patrol to help combat the rise in community violence, break-ins, anti-social behaviour and volatile substance abuse.  

In 2023, he served as chairman of Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation, and in 2020 won the Lifetime Achievement Award – Territory National Resource Management. The same year, Mandaka was awarded the Australia Day Citizen of the Year Award – Nhulunbuy 2020.