By Hollie Harris
Sunshine Coast Indigenous festival Booin Gari has announced a stand-out program for 2017, which centres on a cultural immersion in music, dance, traditional art and craft, and storytelling.
The festival will be held on Tuesday 11 April from 9.30am to 3.30pm at Noosaville Lions Park with a range of activities and workshops for the whole community to participate in and enjoy.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Booin Gari, now hosted by Gubbi Gubbi Dance.
Booin Gari means Come This Way in Gubbi language and is an opportunity to build positive relationships and share in local Indigenous culture.
The festival line-up includes performances by:
* Australia’s best Indigenous Comedian Sean Choolburra;
* Torres Strait Islander ‘guitar virtuoso’ Chris Tamwoy;
* Performer Emily Wurramara, whose debut EP is ‘Black Smoke’;
* Yarwah – a band with a cutting edge contemporary sound born from ancient cultures and language; and
* McMooks – an extraordinary beatboxing rapper.
Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance groups, Gubbi Gubbi Dance and Malu Kiai Buai Mura
United Synergies CEO Christopher John highlights the importance of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and their families coming together, celebrating and sharing their culture with the wider community.
“We started the Booin Gari festival in 2007 as a very small event in the car park of United Synergies offices, and saw the festival grow significantly over the years to now attract a crowd of around 2000 people,” Christopher said.
“This year we are proud to support Gubbi Gubbi Dance and the Indigenous community to lead the 10th anniversary of Booin Gari with us as a major sponsor.
“The festival provides such an important opportunity for celebration, connection, engagement and sharing knowledge, history and culture among our wider community,” he said.
Gubbi Gubbi Dance leader, Lyndon Davis was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast and is a representative and direct descendant of the local Gubbi Gubbi people, traditional custodians.
“We have worked with United Synergies for a long time and have been a part of the Booin Gari Festival since the beginning. I am honoured to be able to host Booin Gari and take on the creation and delivery of the event,” Lyndon said.
“Gubbi Gubbi Dance are proud to work with the local Indigenous community sharing our people’s culture and stories with the wider community. We have co-created a stand-out line up for the 2017 program.
“We encourage everyone to come along and participate. We will have: Paint Your Own Returning Boomerang and Your Own Canvas sessions; Kabi River Stories; Men’s and Boy’s Didgeridoo Workshop; Emu Feather Jewellery Making; Song and Dance workshops, and much more,” he said.
United Synergies and Noosa Council are the major sponsors, with PHN Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast, North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health, IFYS Ltd, STEPS Group Australia, Coast2Bay Housing Group the University of the Sunshine Coast also event sponsors this year.
Event parking is available in Chaplin Park off Mill Street.
