Big Talk One Fire Indigenous Cultural Festival brings families to Fogarty Park

A CELEBRATION of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture will take over Fogarty Park tomorrow.

Minjin dancers Jeffrey Daniels 13, Otis Morrison and Bianca Kyle 16 who will be performing at the UMI Arts' Big Talk One Fire festival on this weekend. PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

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A CELEBRATION of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture will take over Fogarty Park tomorrow. (SAT)

UMI Arts executive officer and Big Talk One Fire Indigenous Cultural Festival organiser Peter Lenoy said the event gave Indigenous youths the chance to find mentors.

“We want to promote the wellbeing and resilience of our young people,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity for us to provide them with positive rolemodels. They don’t get a lot of opportunities to see that.”

The event has been a drawcard for locals and tourists in the past, and Mr Lenoy said it was a chance for non-Indigenous visitors to learn more about Indigenous culture.

“It’s an opportunity for us to come together and start conversations,” he said.

“If people do come here and marvel at something they can talk to someone about it, and find out the stories behind our dancing and singing.”

The Big Talk One Fire Indigenous Cultural Festival will be held at Fogarty Park from midday on Saturday.

The event will include a marketplace, cultural dancing and singing, kids’ activities and a chance to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders.

Entry is free.

Originally published as Big Talk One Fire Indigenous Cultural Festival brings families to Fogarty Park