TRANSCRIPT
It was a moment of healing for families a long way from home.
A healing ceremony has been held in honour of the US Marines who died in a Melville Island Osprey crash last year.
The Tiwi people have gathered to conduct the final ceremonies of sorry business.
Tiwi Traditional Owner Jennifer Ullungura Clancy says it's a commemoration of the lives lost on their land.
"It was the community, from the three communities and brothers at Melville Island that wanted this to happen, to respect the family because of they didn't say their last goodbye to their loved ones."
It's been just over a year since the Osprey aircraft carrying 23 service personnel went down on Melville Island while taking part in an Australian Defence Force training exercise.
The Osprey aircraft has a checkered safety history with more than 50 related fatalities recorded.
But an investigation has ruled out any mechanical failure of the aircraft in this instance, attributing the crash to human error.
Now, each Marine has been given a Tiwi name in a ceremonial adoption of their families into Tiwi culture.
VOXXIE 1: "I give the name to brother, Rockatalale"
VOXXIE 2: "We've never experienced anything like this before and it's just so welcoming and we are all one. We are all human beings and we cherish this very very much."
The lives lost include 21-year-old Corporal Spencer Collart, the crew chief.
The pilot, Captain Elanor LeBeau, who was 29, and their highly decorated Major, 37-year-old Tobin Lewis.
Jennifer Clancy says their families will now travel to the Tiwi islands for a final ceremony - the pukumani.
"We share with them so that they can be free you know say a last goodbye to their loved ones because they haven't said goodbye since the day it happened because they didn't do it in their home, they did it in Australian soil. That's why my people wanted to do this back home."
Corporal Spencer Collart's mother, Alexia Collart, says it's a closing chapter as they carry on the memory of their loved ones, now forever bonded with the Tiwi people.
"I know he would love this and I know that he is going to be on his way. We've had many signs from him and we miss him so so much, he was only 21 years old."
