Now in its 23rd year, the Garma Festival – Australia’s largest Indigenous cultural exchange event – returns to the Gulkula ceremonial site in North East Arnhem Land from August 4-7.

The annual festival brings together clan leaders across Arnhem Land to share culture, ideas, and policy discussions with attendees including the Prime Minister and Northern Territory Government leaders.

This year, attendees will pay tribute to Yunupingu and honour his legacy.

Yunupingu was a pioneer of the land rights movement and Indigenous rights, a former chair of the Northern Land Council and co-founder of the Yothu Yindi Foundation and, subsequently, the Garma Festival.

“The Yothu Yindi Foundation has worked hard over the years to build Garma into an event of national significance on the Australian calendar, one that delivers benefits for the local community and the Territory more broadly,” YYF CEO and festival director Denise Bowden said.

“Attendance has increased by 25 per cent since 2015, bringing in millions of dollars in extra tourism revenue. In addition to employing 160 Yolngu people to help deliver Garma, the event also supports 46 local businesses in the Arnhem Land region, and a further 39 businesses based elsewhere in the NT.”

This year’s theme “Djambatj” puts centre stage the Yolngu culuture’s brilliance, skill, and excellence, Ms Bowden said.

Festival highlights include the Bunggul traditional dance every evening of the festival; an open-air Gapan art gallery, now celebrating its 20th year; a Key Forum; and a diverse program of music.

There will also be a youth forum, which will explore leadership and new ways of thinking, along with hands-on cultural workshops.

The Key Forum is the think-tank component of the festival, where policy experts and community leaders discuss and debate issues impacting Yolngu and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the festival is an opportunity for Australian leaders to mingle, and most importantly, learn about the oldest living culture on earth.

“Garma Festival is a unique event that shines the spotlight on Yolngu people and, more broadly, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture, as the country’s decision-makers gather to discuss issues that affect Indigenous Australians,” Ms Fyles said.

Visit https://yyf.com.au/garma-festival/ to find out more about the Garma Festival.