Boon Wurrung Ngargee Sunset Ceremony

10 February, 2011 15:43 by Lucy De Kretser

Last Saturday, some of us Bunjilaka mob braved the floods and headed over to St Kilda for the Boon Wurrung Ngargee Sunset Ceremony, held in the O'Donnell Gardens. We were absolutely blown away by what turned out to be a truly amazing (and rainless!) ceremony.

Boon Wurrung Ngargee was designed to reclaim and celebrate local Boon Wurrung stories, Lore and Language through new songs and dance. Thirty young Indigenous dancers and their families from the Frankston, Footscray and Fitzroy communities worked with Senior Elders and professional artists to create the contemporary ceremony, designed to light up the park, dance up country and sing up Old Lore into NOW, which it did with great success!

It was the first time in 170 years that these stories had been sung in Language on Country, and participants pulled out all the stops to create an extraordinary, highly memorable, and deeply moving experience for all. We hope you enjoy the pics below!

Aunty Carolyn, Jacob and Nikki
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum Victoria

Female Elders singing in Language and playing the possum skin drums
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum VictoriaFire is central to the Ceremony
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum VictoriaUncle Larry and a little fella in the foreground
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum VictoriaElders playing the drums, including Manager of Bunjilaka, Caroline Martin, in paint to awaken the Spirit
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum VictoriaUncle Larry
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum VictoriaThe women and young girls do a beautiful dance while their Elders sing
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum VictoriaThe boys and men do their dance
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum VictoriaYoung'uns
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum VictoriaToooo cute.
Image: Genevieve Grieves
Source: Museum Victoria

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