These programs underpin the maintenance and sustainable improvement of the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Yolngu and other Indigenous Australians. Sun 3 … Their ask is modest. I attended Garma with the intention to listen, broaden my knowledge, show my respect and develop my art practice as well as supporting the pathway coordinator of the WARRUWI \Stl Leonard’s College partnership. Emily Wilson in Arnhem Land. The Festival is proud to present the Garma Cinema to present another line-up of stellar new films brought to by Blackfella Films. Photograph: Mick … Personalise your weather. Out in remote East Arnhem Land, Yirrkala launches the Garma Festival, one of the largest and most vibrant celebrations of Indigenous culture in the Top End. This year Oxfam attended the Garma Festival held at Gulkula, a culturally significant site for the Yolngu people about 20km outside of Nhulunbuy in northeast Arnhem Land. The Garma festival started 21 years ago. 7. It is … In recent years, Garma has become an important fixture on the political calendar, attracting business, political, academic, and philanthropic leaders to help shape Indigenous affairs policy through the Key Forum conference. "As a non indigenous person it is a welcome chance to look, listen and to hear: learn more Aboriginal Culture and what it means to be custodians of this land.". By … In addition, the Corporation discussed the potential hosting of a rocket launch site (see below).[4]. The facility is seen as a huge opportunity to boost the economy of the region, providing jobs and pathways for STEM graduates. Garma implies many things for Yolngu, as a practice and as a place. Why I Pledge my support of the Yothu Yindi Foundation, "Because of your support to your culture and future generations.". With the COVID-19 pandemic causing Garma to go on hiatus in 2020, the 22nd will return in 2021. "Wouldn't that be lovely, just to open Garma and the Dhupumu College itself," Mr Yunupingu said. Description: Currently, the Garma Institute forms a crucial part of Garma through formal presentations (e.g. It is a celebration of the cultural inheritance of the Yolngu people and cultural inheritance, the aim is at sharing knowledge and culture. Arts centres featured at recent Garma events include Buku-Larrnggay, Bula’bula Arts, Elcho Island Arts and Ngukkur Arts Centre. This 4 day event in early August is set in the remote East Arnhem Land region and sees Indigenous people for across the NT and Australia converge with politicians, thought leaders and the general public. [7] In May 2019, NASA announced its intention to sign a contract with ELA, and launch four rockets in 2020. In these highly significant ceremonies, men, women and children from the 13 Yolngu clan groups perform a dance unique to northeast Arnhem Land. This is a festival of observing and unfurling the message of the holly Gukula land. 7 Things to Do in Sequoia National Park The Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures (Garma) is Australia's largest Indigenous cultural gathering, taking place over four days each August in northeast Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory, Australia. "Let's be clear about what First Nations people are asking for. I think Garma is important to demonstrate the strength of our indigenous culture. Organised by the Yothu Yindi foundation as a celebration of Yolnju culture, the Garma There's also a strong emphasis on developing leadership skills for the next generation, and in recent years, participants from the Youth Forum have led the closing Key Forum session, sharing the lessons they have learned over the course of the 4 days and their hopes and dreams for the future.[17]. The music, company and bunggul is also great. F rom the bush behind Garma festival’s outdoor auditorium, Gumatj men file out to the clearing from their men-only ceremony, led by the Indigenous affairs minister, Ken … GREG ROBERTS reports "He said 'enough is enough' . TOM CALMA: ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSIONER. kick goals by making a donation! Professor Marcia Langton speaking at the Garma festival. Garma Festival. What happens at the Garma Festival? The common feedback received by the Yothu Yindi Foundation from urban Australia was that they’d like to know more about what happens in regional and very remote regions of Australia. My memories of Garma: “Standing in the meal queue and sitting at the communal tables, chatting to other attendees and learning of their reasons for attending Garma; Enjoying the beautiful country in which Garma is located; Participating in group activities; Enjoying excellent coffee!”, My memories of Garma: “The conversations, cultural events, dancing, music, art, friendly people, great food and sensational environment.”, “Garma provides a platform for the voices of our Aboiriginal population, and those that want the best for them, coming together for the protection of this countries true heritage and to unite with common passion, care and love of our country and its peoples. The proximity of a deep-water port is seen as an advantage, reducing the cost of transporting rockets and payloads, compared with road transport across the desert. [18][19], Australia's largest annual Indigenous cultural gathering, List of resources about traditional arts and culture of Oceania, European Launcher Development Organisation, "Nhulunbuy on the Gove Peninsula, East Arnhem Land, NT", "Northern Territory historical society saves satellite tracker from scrap heap after a 3,000 km journey", "NASA scientists visit NT site which could eventually blast rockets to the Moon", "NASA to launch rockets into space from Northern Territory spaceport", "NASA to launch rockets from Northern Territory", "The best of Australian arts 2014: Concert music", "Garma Festival spotlights decline in NT bilingual teachers", "Australia to be sued over mining project's 'unmerciful' destruction of Indigenous land", "Constitutional recognition dominates Garma agenda", "Yothu Yindi Foundation chief says Australian governments 'dining out' on Aboriginal misery", "The Imagination Declaration of the Youth Forum read at Garma 2019", "Everything you need to know about The Garma Festival in Arnhem Land", tapa ["masi" (Fiji), "ngatu" (Tonga), "siapo" (Sāmoa), " ʻuha" (Rotuma)], Asian American and Pacific Islander Policy Research Consortium, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Garma_Festival_of_Traditional_Cultures&oldid=1017392939, Organisations serving Indigenous Australians, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Garma happens when people with different ideas and values come together and negotiate knowledge in a respectful learning environment.The Garma Festival at Gulkula creates this kind of environment for Yolngu and Balanda (non-Indigenous Australians). Check out the Yabun 2017 highlights On Demand. Dhapanbal Yunupingu, the daughter of Dr M Yunupingu, said the first event was a small-scale affair. Bliss.”, “Vital role in healing a nation sick at its core.”. The word Garma stands for a place enriched with resources for many people. But it’s much more than that. 7 Things to Do in Sequoia National Park He said the voice to parliament would not act as a de-facto third chamber of parliament, a leading criticism used by opponents of the proposal. Aim: Developing individuals and communities through education, training and enterprise. Seven Nous representatives from across Australia, including three from our new Darwin office, had the privilege of attending the 2019 Garma Festival, hosted by the Yolngu people in Arnhem Land in early August. The Garma Festival is a celebration of the Yolngu cultural inheritance. How many years ago did the festival first start? Henley-on-Todd Regatta Alice Springs' iconic 'boat' races on the (usually) bone-dry Todd River take place on the third Saturday in August. Djalu Gurruwiwi delivered the first Yiḏaki Masterclass at the inaugural Garma Festival in 1999, and has delivered all subsequent Yiḏaki Masterclasses since. In 2017, the Gumatj clan, through the Northern Land Council, approved a lease to the Gumatj Corporation for the purposes of operating a sub-orbital rocket launch pad, a first not just for Yolngu but for Australia. Speaking on a political panel at the Garma Festival in north-east Arnhem Land on Sunday, the senator said Australia would not move forward on reconciliation and constitutional recognition until past wounds are healed. The Garma Festival of Traditional Culture is an annual festival that is held in north-east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory, Australia. This particular festival started in 2014 and runs annually. Siena Stubbs, 17, from Yirrkala in East Arnhem Shire reads the Imagination Declaration on behalf of a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students at the 2019 Garma Festival. The Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures (Garma) is Australia's largest Indigenous cultural gathering, taking place over four days each August in northeast Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory, Australia. The significance of bees and honey is manifested in sacred designs that identify the body of cultural knowledge associated with honey. Garma’s arts and education elements create a full program of events in which guests can immerse themselves according to their own choice. “This (Garma) festival should be on eveyones bucket list.”, Lisa Dhurrkay, Nhulunbuy Northern Territory, “I believe that Garma is important to ALL, Indigenous and non-Indigenous.”, “Garma is an event that has the ability to change the way people think and feel about Aboriginal Australia. The Garma Festival (www.garma.telstra.com.au) is a celebration of Indigenous culture, ceremony and arts, focusing on the Yolngu people of Northeast Arnhem Land, combined with a forum on an aspect of Indigenous life, e.g. Why I pledge my support to the Yothu Yindi Foundation? Key Forum and Youth Forum) and informal communications, discussions and networking. Together we grow stronger and walk towards a better, common future. The theme for the 2018 Garma Festival is Truth Telling. In his search for honey, Ganbulapula used his walking stick to hit the trees and so disturb the bees. Set amongst the dropback of picturesque Yolngu country in the heart of East Arnhem Land, anyone fortunate enough to attend is encouraged to bring an open heart and mind. The issue has been a key talking point at the Garma Festival of Traditional Cultures in northeast Arnhem Land where Mr Albanese has been this weekend. This dance form worships the divinity and power of Goddess Durga or Amba. Garma, Nhulunbuy, NT. Description: This is Australia’s leading Indigenous cultural exchange event and a national hub for major forums with discussion, policy and action formulation, and bringing together Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians through youth forums, art gallery, music, film, song, dance and expo. It was traditionally performed around a big Garbha Deep, representing life just as fetus in the mother’s womb. The event showcases traditional miny'tji (art), ancient story-telling, manikay (song), and bunggul (dance). NITV is the official media supporter for the 19th annual Garma festival, in Gulkula, Arnhem Land. You can help the Youthu Yindi Foundation Describe using your own words. To share knowledge and culture, thereby fostering greater understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. What is a Beer Festival? It is a celebration of the cultural inheritance of the Yolngu people and cultural inheritance, the aim is at sharing knowledge and culture. It is a celebration of the cultural inheritance of the Yolngu people and cultural inheritance, the aim is at sharing knowledge and culture. Garma happens when people with different ideas and values come together and negotiate knowledge in a respectful learning environment. [5], In 2017, thanks to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976, the Yolngu landowners were consulted on the possible construction of a new space facility. In its 21st year, guests will share ideas and learn from array of indigenous and non-indigenous speakers. Every year in the month of August around 20 clan groups gather at the holly place called Gukula near Arnhem Land for their annual festival. 7. A classroom that is rich with information and ideas that spring from culture that is known to the child provide the perfect springboard for enriched learning. [citation needed] The purpose of the station was to track the path of rockets launched from Woomera in South Australia, and its state-of-the-art technology was operated by mainly Belgian scientists. The larger it becomes the stronger the argument for representation in the constitution. Some believe this in itself is enough to cover the blemishes of the organisers.The idea being that what is lost in corrupt and aggressive ‘local’ activities is won in pushing the national concerns of (select) Indigenous Australian’s into mainstream media for a week. The theme for the 2018 Garma Festival is Truth Telling. . It is held at Gulkula, a significant Gumatj ceremonial site about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the township of Nhulunbuy, attracts more than 2500 guests each year and is often sold out months in advance. Many renowned tantra teachers join to give talks and workshops, as well as musicians, dancers and meditators. What is meant by this? This report aims to capture the richness of the 2017 Garma Festival and to summarise the key themes, debates and learnings from the event. Especially with the amount of ‘beer festivals’ these days… This is a festival of sharing knowledge and culture. At the time, the Yolngu owners had no rights in Australian law, and they were powerless to prevent the European Launcher Development Organisation from installing a rocket tracking station on the ceremonial site. The common feedback received by the Yothu Yindi Foundation from urban Australia was that they’d like to know more about what happens in regional and very remote regions of … Hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Garma is a celebration of the cultural traditions of the Yolngu people, and a major community gathering for the clans and families of the Arnhem Land region. Sue Hayward, Develop East Arnhem Land, Victoria. Challenging issues are discussed and debated in a spirit of openess and respect.”, “The bringing together of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to discuss and resolve issues is vitally important to our society. My uncles picked their camp. As the 20th annual Garma Festival focuses on truth-telling and the potential it has for Indigenous Australians, NITV takes a deeper look at what a truth telling commission is, and why this discussion is … Garma happens at remote Gulkula, near Nhulunbuy in northeast Arnhem Land, about 1,000km from Darwin. [6][4], The proposed site covers 65 hectares (160 acres), and had by 2019 been sub-leased to Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) by the Gumatj people. ”, “As a non indigenous person it is a welcome chance to look, listen and to hear: learn more Aboriginal Culture and what it means to be custodians of this land.”, “Yothu Yindi Foundation stands for 'Art as Medicine and Message'”, “Because of your support to your culture and future generations”, “Raising awareness about Indigenous Culture”, Ndayisenga Clauvis, Australian Capital Territory, “Is important because is an traditional culture”, “I want to enable First Nations people to be self determined and become leaders in Australia”, “I think the objectives of the foundation are encouraging young Aboriginal Australians”. Our chef slept next to the back of the ute in a swag". It is an opportunity for non-Aboriginal Australians to discover a part of our identity that we didn't even realise was missing. #Victoria. 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