The Garma Festival emphasises Indigenous Australian cultures and voices, and highlights the value of listening and collaborating with Indigenous people about matters of Sea Country.
As a regular attendee of the Garma Festival, FRDC Board Director Suzi Hullick says the event provides a space for a conversation centring on Indigenous perspectives which is important when considering issues about Indigenous rights around the Australian coastline.
The 22nd annual Garma was held at Gulkala in north-east Arnhem Land from 29 July – 1 August. Garma is an annual Indigenous event hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation that celebrates the expression and presentation of Yolngu knowledge systems and customs through art, story-telling, song and dance.
National gathering place
Along with cultural activities, the Key Forum is a nationally significant gathering place for highlighting contemporary issues. It provides a space for speakers to give equal voice to Aboriginal people and organisations as well as local, state and federal government representatives.
“They have a lovely mix between what’s happening on the ground and what’s happening from a government perspective. It tries to give everyone in the audience a sense of the way the system works,” Suzi says.
Garma brings to life the mix of culture, Suzi says. Themes can be heard from all perspectives and there is an opportunity to enquire. These enquiries can range from simple cultural protocols all the way to broad systemic issues and why things have may not have changed. It is this kind of approach that gives everyone a perspective and something to take away.
The festival is about hearing and listening to the voices of Aboriginal people when decisions are being made. It is imperative to have Indigenous representation at the table, says Suzi.
This year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke at Garma’s Key Forum on a proposal for constitutional change to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original peoples of Australia and to establish A Voice to Parliament. This is a body enshrined in the Constitution that would enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to provide advice to the Parliament on policies and projects that impact their lives.
The Prime Minister’s announcement of A Voice to Parliament also links to the discussion of the rights of land and sea around the Australian coastline and the effects they may have on all elements of the fishing community.
Indigenous perspectives in fisheries
Suzi acknowledges that FRDC has been working for many years to ensure Indigenous voices are heard through its Indigenous Reference Group (IRG).
The IRG is a committee including Indigenous people with expertise and knowledge in various areas of Australian fishing and aquaculture. It oversees FRDC’s Indigenous fishing subprogram and ensures that fishing and seafood industry-focused RD&E assists in delivering improved economic, environmental and social benefits to Australia’s Indigenous peoples.
Events like Garma are a prime example of a meeting of voices and minds to give equal footing to Indigenous Australian perspectives, and this is also why the IRG and the Indigenous fishing subprogram are such crucial resources to FRDC.
“The IRG is incredibly important to us and our future, particularly where the complexity of fishing rights in remote Australia will be continually challenged. So having the IRG as a guide for FRDC will be essential for making the right decisions,” Suzi says.
Suzi also noted that a particularly significant element of this year’s Garma festival was the number of young people coming through the Forum. It provided evidence of leadership continuing to be passed on and the culture continuing to be advocated for.
“Garma included the voices of the emerging leaders. That, coupled with the announcements, provides a level of confidence by the Australian people that our culture is in good hands and that the culture is being passed on.”
“I think now as a country, it's time for us to continue to support that voice and ensure it has longevity,” Suzie says.
