A 'yarn tent' has discussed issues around national unity, the Indigenous Voice to Parliament and reconciliation at the annual Saltwater Freshwater festival, on the NSW Mid North Coast.
A crowd gathered to watch as a traditional smoking ceremony and Aboriginal dancers opened the festival, which was timed to coincide with Reconciliation Week.
The event aims to showcase the art, music and culture of the Worimi, Biripi, Dunghutti and Gumbaynggirr nations of the Mid North Coast region and was this year held at Port Macquarie.
It's also seen as a chance to raise awareness about issues affecting Indigenous people.
A 'yarn tent' was set up to host a series of panel discussions, coordinated by Aboriginal woman, Kristal Kinsela.
Topics included unity, equality and equity, including ways to close the gap in life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
"What festivals like this do, is provide a moment in time where we can come together as community and we can share the greatness, the strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in a space that is really safe," Ms Kinsela said.
"It's about creating spaces that are safe for us to come and unite … and open up the debate and open up the conversation."
Voice to Parliament
Ms Kinsela said the legislation to set up the referendum on enshrining an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the constitution, which recently passed the House of Representatives, was an integral part of today's conversations.
"One of our panel discussions was about unity and a key focus of that is the Voice referendum," she said.
"The first thing, in my view, is the constitution of this country does not acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first peoples, and we need to correct that.
"The second thing is, should Aboriginal and Torres Strait people have a right to have a voice on the matters that affect their lives? The easy answer to that is, yes."
Ms Kinsela said there was an overall feeling among those who attended the panel discussions that a 'yes' vote was needed.
"The feeling was if we don't get a 'yes' vote and it's a 'no', it will set us back decades," she said.
"I think there is a bit of a disconnect with what's happening in community and their understanding about what it will mean and what will be the difference on the ground."
Gamilaroi/Gomeroi woman Michelle Flanders, who lives near Coffs Harbour and coordinated the festival dance groups, said the Voice to Parliament needed to be discussed.
"We just need to get people to realise that we are First Nations and we do need a voice," Ms Flanders said.
Celebrating culture and unity
Ms Flanders said the festival was also a great way to highlight Reconciliation Week and local Aboriginal cultures.
"It's very important particularly being Reconciliation Week to show we are proud, strong Aboriginal people and we put on a really good show," she said.
"We want to pass on the culture and knowledge we get from the elders down to the young and make them proud, and it's wonderful."
The CEO of the Unkya Local Aboriginal Land Council in Macksville, Michele Donovan, is a member of the Saltwater Freshwater Alliance and said it was fantastic to see how the event had grown since it began in 2010.
"We have a long way to go, but things are improving … and that's what reconciliation is about, so we can share that and walk together," she said.
