This year's Portland's Upwelling Festival will feature a First Nations program, celebrating Gunditjmara cultural connections in the Nyamat Yarkeen Karween, or Southern Ocean Ceremony.
The festival, to be held from November 1-3 on Gunditjmara country in Portland, will see ten bands and more than 100 market stalls, as well as dancers and musicians descend on the town to honour the ocean, land and sky, in a celebration of the unique natural phenomena, the Bonney Upwelling.
Nyamat Yarkeen Karween will host a ceremony on Friday evening at 7.30pm, with a mob-only BBQ held from 6pm.
Cultural Director, Shea Rotumah, has invited whale songlines custodians and salt water peoples from the East Coast - from Yarrabah in Queensland to Coorong in South Australia - to the event.
The Gunditjmara man says, "everyone is invited to share in a celebration of the Sea, Nyamat Yarkeen".
"Whale custodians, storytellers and dancers have been invited to observe ceremonial business. We want to reinvigorate whale songlines that have been disrupted due to introduced colonising practices," Mr Rotumah said.
Gunnai and Yorta Yorta Elder, Uncle Wayne Thorpe has been invited. Mr Thorpe has become a custodian - through ceremony - of the whale dreaming song, a story and dance of the movement of the whales as taught by Gunnai and Yuin man Uncle Max Dulumunmun Harrison.
"I invite participation of the people in attendance to be involved in forming the shape of the whale and move to the beats of the song," Mr Thorpe said.
"It's an inclusive opportunity for the people attending, rather than a performance to the audiences."
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The weekend will feature a First Peoples Jewellery making workshops as well as an artefacts display at the Yuurka Bawhaar Bazaar, where patrons can purchase unique Gunditjmara crafts and learn about Gunditjmara culture.
Gunai and Gunditjmara multi-disciplinary artist Monica Jasmine Karo, also known as MpathSoul, will also perform, as will Gunditjmara musicians Andy Alberts and Lee Morgan.
"I'm looking forward to coming to Gunditj Country, to be part of a festival that honours our song, dance community and culture," Ms Karo said.
"It's beautiful to have a festival that pays homage to our marine mammal family and our connection to Sea Country. It's very special to bring my son to country and be with mob and family."
President Megan Stokes and the committee will also welcome back local musicians Jess Cook and one of Emma Donovan's favourite musicians, Gunditjmara man Jayden Lillyist, as well as the Portland Irish Group, cover band specialists Dave Bartel, MixedTape, Port Fairy band Southern Ocean Sea Band, and Fairy Wrens front woman, Hannah Donaldson.
"As a proud local, it brings me great pleasure and pride to head a team of dedicated volunteers, whom work endlessly to bring together an iconic and free community festival, showcasing our rich cultural, environmental and artistic attributes to share with the wider community," Ms Stokes said.
Other activities include The Bonney Walk treasure hunt for the first 200 children, along with market stalls and food vans.
Portland's Nyamat Yarkeen Karween, Upwelling Festival & 3 Bays Running Festival is taking place November 1-3 at the Bentinck St Green and Portland Foreshore.
