SOME OF THE MANY CULTURAL EVENTS ACROSS AUSTRALIA... (please confirm individual details) Relevant websites include: http://www.shareourpride.org.au/pages/topics/indigenous festivals.php www.aboriginalaustralia.com.au http://aboriginaltouroperators.com.au www.aboriginal culture tour.com www.treklarapinta.com.au/aboriginalculturaltours www.jawoyn.org/manyallaluk tours.htm New South Wales Mungabareena Ngan Girra Festival Albury The festival is a living cultural show that explores the richness of traditional and contemporary Indigenous cultures. It includes cultural performances from singers and dancers, as well as boomerang and spear throwing, the preparation of bush tucker and various Indigenous stalls and displays. Guringai Festival Sydney Founded in 2001, the Guringai Festival aims to raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Northern Sydney region. The Festival involves 11 councils and numerous reconciliation and community groups. Events include workshops, art exhibitions, performances, films and talks. Annual, November Day before Sorry Day (26 May) to the end of NAIDOC week (second week of ) Dare to Lead Page 1
Northern Territory Barunga Cultural and Sports Festival www.barungafestival.com.au Desert Harmony Arts & Cultural Festival www.barklyarts.com.au/desertharmony.php Barrunga (4 hours away from Darwin) Tennant Creek Barunga Festival is one of Australia's longest running Aboriginal festivals, located four hours away from Darwin. The festival weekend is a unique opportunity to come and be part of a remote Aboriginal community, and share in the Jawoyn culture. Over the weekend, visitors are invited to camp in the community, be part of dancing ceremonies, share traditional bush tucker, make their own didgeridu to take home, and enjoy the many cultural activities on offer. The Festival is an annual event celebrating the region's thriving and vibrant cultural mix of Indigenous and non Indigenous artists, musicians, dancers and writers. Every year over the June Long weekend Annual 28 August to 5 September Queensland Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival Laura Beginning 30 years ago, this event has become one of the largest gatherings of Indigenous people resulting in one of the most varied displays of Aboriginal Culture in the World. Traditional segments of the festival include dance, song, and other aspects of culture such as displays of hunting implements, weaving, etc. Non traditional components will include lifestyle choice programs, employment and recreational workshops, short film festival and night time contemporary Aboriginal performers. Every 2 years Dare to Lead Page 2
The Dreaming Festival Woodford The Dreaming is a vibrant, exciting and a valuable destination where local, national and international audiences look forward to their annual ceremony time along with the most comprehensive showcase of Indigenous arts from across the country and around the world. Every year This three day and four night festival will have performing arts venues, bars, Ceremony grounds, traditional healing, galleries, rituals, campfire story circles and a mass of stalls, workshop avenue and food outlets. NAIDOC Family Day Musgrave Park, Brisbane Every year 1 st Contact Cultural and Sports Festival Brisbane Every year Styling Up Festival Inala, Brisbane Established in 2000 by local Inala elders in Every year partnership with Brisbane City Council as a way of instilling their youth with pride in themselves, their community and their culture. The event has grown to become Australia s largest Indigenous Hip Hop and R&B music and dance events that celebrates youth and contemporary Indigenous culture. Cairns Art Festival Cairns An initiative of the Queensland Government, Every year Cairns Indigenous Art Fair is committed to growing the market for Queensland Indigenous art work and providing artists with a dedicated forum at which to sell and showcase their art to local, national and international collectors and arts enthusiasts. Participation in CIAF is by invitation only and in 2009, more than 35 galleries, Indigenous art centres, artist collectives and studios, arts publications and other organisations sold and exhibited the work of over 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists born or based in Queensland. Dare to Lead Page 3
South Australia Spirit Festival Elder Park, Adelaide The Spirit Festival is a new annual event that promotes and celebrates Aboriginal culture and communities in South Australia. As a Social Inclusion Initiative, the Festival aims to strengthen pride and improve spiritual, cultural and physical wellbeing within South Australia s Aboriginal community, while building positive relations between Aboriginal and non Aboriginal people December Tasmania Putalina Festival putalina (Oyster Cove) Putalina (Oyster Cove) music festival & some performing arts. Held annually around the 14th January the date (in1984) that the Aboriginal community of Tasmanian reclaimed putalina. Headline local Aboriginal performers as well as fellas from the 'mainland' (including Archie Roach & Ruby Hunter, Kev Carmody, Troy Cassar Daly, Dan Sultan, Casy Donovan). Around the 14 th of January, annually Dare to Lead Page 4
Victoria Brambuk Halls Gap, Budj Bim, Worn Gunditj Tower Hill Warrnambool http://www.brambuk.com.au/tours.htm Halls Gap Brambuk operates two separate tours which showcase the Aboriginal heritage and exceptional environment of the area. Barmah State forest Aboriginal Cultural Officers can provide interpretative tours of the forest for schools and other groups. Call the Parks Victoria information centre on 13 1963 for bookings. Harry Nanya tours Mildura Harry Nanya tours operates out of Mildura. They have cultural tours in that part of Victoria and also over the border to Lake Mungo and Willandra Lakes. Highly recommended. www.harrynanyatours.com.au <http://www.harrynanyatours.com.au> Big Fella Festival www.fallscreek.com.au/bigfella Falls Creek For over 30,000 years Indigenous Australians have been coming to the high plains, in the shadows of 'Big Fella' (Mt Bogong) to share their rich culture and the best of contemporary Australian Indigenous music. All year 2 January 2011 Tarerer Festival www.tarerer.com.au Killarney Coming into its third year, The Big Fella Festival hosts some of the nation's top indigenous artists on January 2, 2011. It is a fusion of music, story telling and the Koorie Night Market which has never travelled from Melbourne to regional Victoria before. The Tarerer Festival is to be held on the traditional site of the meeting of the coastal clans. This multi cultural celebration is an invitiation to gather together in the spirit of the 'meeting of the clans' from which 'Tarerer' takes its name. November Dare to Lead Page 5
Thought to be the only event of its kind in Victoria, Tarerer promotes harmony and exchange through the celebration of culture and country. Western Australia Too Solid Music Festival Supreme Court Gardens, Perth Indigenous music festival. Part of Survival Day (Australia Day) activities. January 26 Clontarf Broome to Bicton concert Qurantine Park, Bicton (Perth) Clontarf Foundation s annual family picnic and music concert. Features Indigenous musicians. February Harmony Week http://www.omi.wa.gov.au/omi_harmony_week.cfm Various locations Multicultural week celebrating cultural diversity. Includes Indigenous content. March Minnawarra Festival Minnawarra Park, Armadale Family festival. Stalls, displays, workshops, entertainment, music, art. Includes Indigenous content. March National Sorry Day Wellington Square, East Perth Stalls, entertainment, information acknowledging the Stolen Generations. Suitable for school groups. 26 May Kimberley Indigenous Performing Arts Showcase Broome Showcases Indigenous musicians from the Kimberley. Usually May Boab Festival http://www.derbyboabfestival.org.au/ Derby Two week festival showcasing the talents and attractions of the West Kimberley. Includes art, culture, music and sport. Inclusive of Aboriginal performers. June Dare to Lead Page 6
Respect Yourself, Respect Your Culture: Kimberley Moonrise Rock Festival http://www.moonriserockfestival.com/ Derby Indigenous music festival. Part of the Boab Festival Kurongkrul Katitjin Indigenous Film Festival Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley campus Selection of Indigenous short films screened during NAIDOC Week. NAIDOC Week http://www.naidocperth.org/eventsschedule.htm Various locations Various activities celebrating Aboriginal cultures, histories, languages, achievements in WA. Includes Indigenous football and netball carnivals in various parts of the State. Mowanjum Festival http://www.mowanjumarts.com/projects.html Mowanjum Aboriginal Community, 12kms from Derby along the Gibb River Road Annual festival showcasing the musical talent of the region and an opportunity to experience the corroborees of the Ngarinyin, Wororra and Wunumbul people. Usually Nindji Nindji Festival Port Hedland Biannual festival organised by the Bloodwood Tree Aboriginal Association. Halls Creek Rodeo Halls Creek An annual event for the people of the Kimberley, the rodeo round brings together those from cattle stations, Aboriginal communities and nearby townships. Rodeo plus entertainment by Aboriginal musicians. Vibe Alive http://www.vibealive.com.au/index.asp Kalgoorlie (also held in other states) Two day festival. Includes dance, song, art, sport, career information, health promotion. As part of a team, students compete in a variety of challenges. Celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Targeted at all secondary school students. Usually August Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival National Tour Cinema Paradiso, Perth Indigenous short films. Festival is organised by Screen Australia and Blackfella Films. Usually August/September Dare to Lead Page 7
Shinju Matsuri Festival http://www.shinjumatsuri.com.au/ Broome Shinju Matsuri (which is Japanese for "Festival of the Pearl") recognises the many different cultures in Broome. Includes Indigenous content. August/September Stompem Ground Festival Broome An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned, designed and managed arts and cultural festival that promotes diverse social, cultural and political values. Music and entertainment. Keela Dreaming Festival Kellerberrin Biennial showcase of Aboriginal culture, music and traditional dance in Kellerberin. Festival organised by Community Arts Network WA. Goldfields NAIDOC week Kalgoorlie Cultural celebrations, sporting carnivals, debutante ball. Wardarnji Aboriginal Cultural celebration Fremantle Esplanade Entertainment/music. Includes announcement of PALS reconciliation awards for schools. Part of the Fremantle Festival. Usually September Usually September September November Festival of the Wind http://www.festivalofthewind.org.au/ Esperance Biennial Esperance community festival (dance, music, culture). Includes Indigenous performers. December Dare to Lead Page 8