Indigenous Australia's biggest and most significant cultural and political festival, Garma, kicks off in north east Arnhem Land today. Indigenous rights, economic development, and the upcoming referendum on a voice to parliament are all on the agenda.
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00:00 Well this morning we are seeing really the opening of the Yama Festival for 2023 with
00:07 a memorial for Yirrnipinga this morning and we've seen many of Yolngu children and a lot
00:14 of other people involved in that festival this morning and that really kicks off this
00:19 year's event.
00:20 I've got to say that around 2,500 people attending this year's event, it's grown so much over
00:26 the last five to six years, it's a magical location here where we are.
00:31 To the right of me there's this incredible view all the way out to the water and driving
00:35 in here late last night, you're just going along these red dirt roads and yes it's going
00:42 to be a spectacular opening today I think when we see that layer on the opening ceremony.
00:47 Yeah sure it will be.
00:49 Garmar's always political Michael isn't it but this year's festival especially so do
00:53 you think?
00:57 Yes that's right it's in the shadow of what we'll be seeing later on this year with the
01:02 vote for the voice happening later on this year and look I've got to say I've seen a
01:07 lot of people walking around with yes campaign shirts on and I think that it is certainly
01:15 more political than it has been in the past this year.
01:18 We know that the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be arriving later on today and will be
01:23 giving a speech and we know that the LNP leader, the opposition leader Peter Dutton has declined
01:30 not to come to the festival this year after receiving an invitation.
01:35 But certainly that has dominated some of the conversations around I think so far with the
01:43 voice campaign going on in the background and with all of that coming up later this
01:48 year.
01:50 As you say there seems to be quite a lot of support for the yes campaign but is the no
01:54 vote represented as well?
01:56 Is there people discussing why they think there should be a no vote?
02:02 I haven't seen that as of yet.
02:05 Anyone know of talking about but I think that will certainly be something that will be discussed
02:11 throughout this year's Garmar festival.
02:13 We will certainly see that pop up throughout the festival no doubt I'm sure that will happen
02:19 but we did hear a little bit earlier on from the Yolngu leader Jawa Yunupingu.
02:25 Here's what he had to say.
02:26 It's not the same as what it announced last year when he first came and met up with my
02:31 brother but it's been very quiet in that time frame.
02:38 You know it's quiet because there's been a lot of kind of debates and you know do this
02:44 do that.
02:45 I mean like people are saying now some people are saying yes some support some don't and
02:51 it's just like that feeling that you know when I look at papers when I read it I say
02:56 oh the thing that there is not the way that it was last year.
03:04 That feeling you feel you know that some people around the country do support but especially
03:13 Yolngu people from this part of the country we're very much supported.
03:19 It's also a very cultural event Garmar of course some of the best Indigenous artists
03:24 taking to the stage.
03:26 What are you expecting over the next four days Michael?
03:29 Yes well I know a lot of people are looking forward to seeing the surf rock band King
03:34 Stingray.
03:35 I think that's what a lot of the anyway ABC employees have been talking about leading
03:39 up to this event and seeing King Stingray live but we're also going to see people like
03:44 William Barton performing here.
03:45 I actually saw him on the plane as we were coming in late last night and also Keon J.
03:50 Miller as well as performing as well as many many others.
03:54 They're setting up stages all throughout the campsite here and it's going to be a fantastic
03:59 event a fantastic four-day event.
04:01 Is it hot Michael?
04:05 It is it's off look it's pretty warm but it's not too bad look it's not too bad.
04:08 I've actually got a nice breeze coming in.
04:11 I might be sweating a little bit it might be the light that's shining on me but yeah
04:15 it's not too bad like it's it's certainly this is definitely the cooler part of the
04:19 year to be here.
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