The legacy of Dr Galarrwuy Yunupingu is set to be honoured at this year's Garma Festival, which begins in the Northern Territory on Friday.
Australia's largest Indigenous cultural exchange festival will return to North-East Arnhem Land's Gulkula ceremonial site for it's 23rd year, bringing together clan leaders from across Arnhem Land to share traditional Yolngu culture.
However this year's Garma Festival will be like no other, with attendees to pay tribute to and honour the legacy of Yunupingu throughout the festival.
Dr Yunupingu, who passed away in April of this year, was a pioneer of the land rights and Indigenous rights movement, a former chair of the Northern Land Council and co-founder of the Yothu Yindi Foundation and subsequently, the Garma Festival.
At Garma Festival last year he presented Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with a traditional didgeridoo, who whilst attending Garma, made the announcement that he would recommend changes to Australia's constitution, a now historic step towards the Indigenous Voice to parliament referendum.
Yothu Yindi Foundation chief executive and festival director, Denise Bowden said Garma provides both cultural and economic benefits to Yolngu Traditional Owners and the broader Northern Territory community.
"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," Ms 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."
In addition to the sharing of traditional culture, the four-day festival will see Indigenous leaders participate in panels, sharing ideas and policy discussions with visitors, including government leaders.
Bunggul, a traditional dance, will also be held each evening, as well as the open-air Gapan art gallery, which celebrates 20 years, the Key Forum and a varied program of music.
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.
The theme for this year's pre-eminent festival is Djambatj – Yolngu brilliance, skill, excellence.
Northern Territory chief minister Natasha Fyles said Garma Festival is a unique event on the Northern Territory calendar.
"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.
"It's an opportunity for leaders in Australia to stop, meet, listen and, most importantly, learn from the oldest living culture on earth. For those attending it is a privilege and special experience to be welcomed onto Yolngu country."
National Indigenous Times will be represented at Garma 2023 by mother-daughter duo Nova Peris OAM and Destiny Batman-Peris.
The pair will conduct a range of interviews with key community leaders throughout the duration of the festival, capture stories of Garma attendees and celebrate the history, culture and wisdom of North-East Arnhem Land's Yolngu community.
