Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, leaders to gather at Garma for NT festival’s 25th anniversary
Two laws, two cultures and two worlds will once again meet on the ancient ceremonial grounds in far north of the country for the 25th annual Garma festival. See what’s planned over the four day event.
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Two laws, two cultures and two worlds will once again meet on the ancient ceremonial grounds in far north of the country for the 25th annual Garma festival.
Over four days some of Australia’s biggest political minds will gather on Miwatj (Sunrise) Country in northeast Arnhem Land, NT in a celebration of Yolŋu life and culture.
This weekend’s festival, hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, is a vastly different event to the humble, but optimistic gathering in 2001.
“Dad picked his camp. My uncles picked their camp,” daughter of the Yothu Yindi frontman and musician Dhapanbal Yunupiŋu recalled.
“There were five white fellas who came. There were no tents, two cars, and a barbecue.”
A quarter century later more than 3500 people — including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Malarndirri McCarthy, as well a dozen other Federal and NT politicians — are expected to gather around those same bunggul ceremonial ground.
NT Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Steve Edgington, said he is looking forward to attending this year’s Garma Festival.
YYF Chair Djawa Yunupiŋu said 25 year’s after his brother’s founded the festival, their spirit of optimism and determination lived on.
“They thought about the place of Yolŋu people in the modern world, how to bring pride and confidence to Yolŋu people, and how to educate the rest of Australia,” Mr Yunupiŋu said.
But the Gumatj clan senior member said he knew all too well how slowly it took Balanda (non-Indigenous) people to see the truths of this ancient country.
Last year the High Court recognised that Commonwealth had failed to act “on just terms” when it compulsorily acquired Gumatj land for bauxite mining in 1969 — closing a 55-year fight for justice started by the late Dr G Yunupiŋu AC.
Mr Yunupiŋu said his brother’s victory was at the core of this year’s Garma theme ‘Rom Ga Wänga Watangu’ (‘Law of the land standing firm’).Alongside the political hub of discussion, the festival draws cultural and artistic minds together with traditional dances, the iconic open-air Gapan art gallery and a packed music and performance program including ARIA award-winning Emily Wurramara, Yothu Yindi, Diamond Dogs, WIld Honey, Xavier Rudd and ‘Big Name, No Blankets’.
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Originally published as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, leaders to gather at Garma for NT festival’s 25th anniversary
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