Garma: From Humble Beginnings
Discover the story behind Australia's largest Indigenous cultural exchange
Garma montageYothu Yindi Foundation
The Garma Festival is one of the jewels in Australia’s cultural crown, a flagship event that draws in more than 2500 people from across the country and around the world for what many describe as a life-changing experience.
Buŋgul grounds at GarmaYothu Yindi Foundation
But the first gathering in 1999 was little more than a backyard barbecue, a small-scale affair for the local community.
It was the brainchild of two brothers, the late Dr M Yunupingu - the singer-songwriter of the band Yothu Yindi - and the revered Gumatj land rights leader, the late Yunupingu.
Dhapanbal Yunupingu (2018)Yothu Yindi Foundation
Dr M Yunupingu’s daughter, Dhapanbal Yunupingu, explains: "I remember when (Yunupingu) and dad brought us here, and they were standing on the bunggul ground, and they said: ‘This is the Garma site, this is where the festival is going to be'. "
“We were only little. Dad picked his camp. My uncles picked their camp. There were five white fellas who came. There were no tents, two cars, and a BBQ. Our chef slept next to the back of the ute in a swag.”
Garma is a place where family comes together and cultural knowledge is shared from one generation to the next (2022) by Melanie Faith DoveYothu Yindi Foundation
The year 2001 was the first time Garma had a dedicated, if straightforward, theme - Go! Walala Marrtjiya Gamalili! Come to Garma!) - something which would be a feature of all future events.
Audience opening ceremony (2022) by Peter EveYothu Yindi Foundation
Over the following decade, Garma continued to grow in size, scope and significance, and the promotion of the Key Forum policy conference helped propel the event into the national spotlight, attracting Indigenous, business, political, academic, and philanthropic leaders from across Australia.
Cultural Talks at the Garma Festival (2022) by Peter EveYothu Yindi Foundation
Now, what unfolds at Gulkula reverberates around the country – in boardrooms and lounge rooms, in government departments and inside Parliament.
In 2022, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used the event to deliver a landmark speech that outlined key details of a national referendum on the establishment of an Indigenous Voice to the Parliament– a vote which will be held towards the end of 2023.
Aboriginal flag (2022) by Leicolhn McKellarYothu Yindi Foundation
Regardless of the outcome, Garma will continue to play a key role shaping the development of First Nations public policy in Australia.
Family time at the buŋgul ground (2022) by Melanie Faith DoveYothu Yindi Foundation
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