Premier Anthony Albanese will tell Indigenous leaders at the Garma Festival that he is committed to Makarrata, one of the three pillars of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived at the ceremonial site in north-east Arnhem Land on Friday afternoon, guided through the grounds by members of the Dhalwangu clan.
The Prime Minister joined newly sworn-in Minister for Aboriginal Australia, Malarndirri McCarthy, at the Gulkula site.
Once Garma’s attendants had gathered at the bunggul (dancing) ground, members of the Gumatj clan presented Mr Albanese with a Ganiny, an instrument used to strip the bark from certain trees found in the region.
“I look forward to spending a wonderful couple of days with you again, celebrating language, culture, dance and looking forward to creating a better future as we move forward together,” Albanese said after receiving the gift.
The Prime Minister will tell an audience in Arnhem Land on Saturday: “We remain committed to Makarrata, that powerful Yolŋu word given to the nation, to come together after a struggle,” he will say.
“And we will continue to engage in good faith with leaders and communities to decide what the next steps should be at the national level.”
Senator McCarthy said the festival was an opportunity to discuss what the future of Australia’s First Nations could look like.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived at the ceremonial site in north-east Arnhem Land on Friday afternoon and was greeted by ceremonial dancers.
Albanese will spend Saturday at the festival, the first to be held since the Voice of America referendum.
“It’s really a very special place,” he said.
‘Here in Gulkula you feel the strength of the country.
“It’s an important opportunity for people to talk, listen and redefine where we might be heading.”
Proud of her appointment as Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator McCarthy said she would continue the work of her predecessor Linda Burney.
“I am certainly deeply proud to represent the people of the Northern Territory at the Cabinet table,” she said.
“As a First Nations woman from the Gulf region, that also comes with a special kind of pride.”
Senator McCarthy said she would like to see political leaders join her in meeting Closing the Gap targets after the Productivity Commission’s Annual Data Collection Report, published on Wednesday, showed only five of 19 targets were on track.
“These figures are deeply worrying,” he said.
“I know that in my role I can reach out to political leaders on the other side of the political spectrum and tell them that there is something we can do together to bridge the gaps.”
Outgoing Minister for Aboriginal Australia Linda Burney (left) and new appointee Malarndirri McCarthy (right)
Garma, Australia’s largest Indigenous cultural festival, showcases Yolngu culture through traditional miny’tji (art), manikay (song), bunggul (dance) and storytelling.
Gurtha-Wuma Worrk-gu – Fire, Strength and Renewal is the theme of this year’s 24th annual festival.
This year’s event is the first Garma Festival since the defeat of the referendum for an indigenous voice in parliament, with a strong focus on the way forward after the rejection in October.
Gurtha (fire) is an important concept for the Yolngu people; Yothu Yindi Foundation chair Djawa Yunupingu says it is the basis of life.
“My totem is the tongue of fire, Gurtha, and Gurtha-Wuma Worrk-gu is deeply connected to the ceremonies of the earth,” he said.
‘After the fire, the earth and everything in it is renewed and comes back to life, and with it, so do the people.
‘This is the circle of Yolngu life.’