The eleventh Indigenous music and cultural festival YALUKIT WILUM NGARGEE was held on 6 February 2016 at O'Donnell Gardens in St Kilda. The celebration is part of the St Kilda Festival. The main event, FESTIVAL SUNDAY, will be held on Sunday 14 February on the St Kilda foreshore.
Yesterday, on a beautiful summer's day, I visited Yalukit Wilum Ngargee: People Place Gathering - for the first time.
I arrived after the Welcome to Country by Arweet Carolyn Briggs, a senior Boon Wurrung spokesperson. Boon Wurrung is a clan of the greater Kulin nations. Euro Yuroke, more commonly known as St Kilda, is on the land of the Boon Wurrung people.
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
Embracing smoke at a Smoking Ceremony.
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
Indigenous Hip Hop Projects performed. I admired their dancers.
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
Yalukit Wilum Ngargee was hosted by the wonderful actor/writer Tammy Anderson.
Tammy watches the Hip Hop crew from the stage.
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
Birds of Prey were on show at Yalukit Wilum Ngargee.
Barn Owl and Masked Owl.
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
Wedge-tailed Eagle.
The eagle is the Kulin nations' spiritual being.
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
On the stage Monica Weightman gave a great performance.
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
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| © Barbara Oehring 2016 |
There were many more musical acts to follow finishing with Bart Willoughby in the evening but it was time for me to leave.
I am looking forward to another Yalukit event: CONFINED. The exhibition by Indigenous artists currently in or recently released from custody in Victoria will be shown at the Gallery, St Kilda Town Hall, from 10 February to 8 March 2016.
For details and further Yalukit events:
http://www.stkildafestival.com.au/yalukit/other-events
