GARMA FESTIVAL, 8-12 AUGUST 2008

Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5 - photo gallery 1 - photo gallery 2

Day 5, Monday 12 Aug

remote FOCUS: Revitalising Remote Australia

An important research workshop – “remote FOCUS: Revitalising Remote Australia” – conducted by Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA) a supporter of YYF, was held at Garma today. Its aim is to research aspects and options in regard to the governance of – and good public policy development for – remote Australia. It sought to engage with remote Australians – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – and other stakeholders.

Musicians investigate technology

The Indigenous students’ Contemporary Music Training Program this year centred on individual school group performances and had a strong focus on the use of music technology and song writing.

Students were able to use industry-standard software tools to construct a virtual studio as well as using composing software. There was a song writing competition and a workshop on music business with special guest speakers. Participants also practised their instruments and took part in concerts.

Charles Darwin University in conjunction with YYF runs a VET contemporary music course leading up to Garma and the Liverpool River Sunset band, Maningrida; Gulundari band from Yilpara, and Southeast band from Santa Theresa, performed on the main stage after the daily bunggul.

Recording project continues

The YYF Indigenous Recording and Multimedia Training Project is developing and implementing a practical working model to record and document the important traditions of Australia Indigenous music and dance and ceremony.

For reasons of protocol and cultural sensitivity, the community ownership of the programs and its results, and social cohesion and development, it is extremely important for Yolngu (and other Indigenous community) students to be trained to record their own musical and dance traditions, including the bunggul. As well the students develop work and life skills and increase their learning and self esteem with positive educational results.

The project is using new technologies to record, document and store locally (at the Mulka Centre at Yirrkala) the traditional practices.

Students record youth performers

Indigenous Multimedia Training students finalised their filming and editing today. They were creating music and video clips for the school bands participating at Garma and documenting the Bunggul and the Youth Forum.

In the evening during Garma, Gove Amateur Astronomers also presented a “40,000-year history in the stars” at the festival covering the Yolngu stories of the Milky Way.

Live performers thrill audience

A stellar array of Indigenous music performers was the highlight of each day after the nightly bunggul. Bands performed on the main stage for more than 2500 people from the festival and nearby communities. The line-up included Saltwater, B2M, Jimmy Little, Andrew Farris (INXS), Ben Lee and the Chooky Dancers.