Thousands gathered on Saturday to celebrate the diverse and vibrant Aboriginal cultures of the NSW Mid North Coast at the Saltwater Freshwater Festival, held at Eungai Creek.
After two years of cancellations due to COVID restrictions, participants and attendees were excited to be able to gather again to celebrate the local art, music and culture of the Worimi, Biripi, Dunghutti and Gumbaynggirr nations.
One festival-goer was young Aboriginal woman, Charity Faith who said the event was the ideal way for her to learn more about her culture to pass on to the younger members of her family.
"I haven't had the opportunity to actually find out where I come from because of the trauma that had been afflicted on my family," Charity said.
"I'm trying my best to learn our culture so that the generation that comes after get an opportunity to learn something that I didn't at their age."
Generations connect
The event brings together elders and younger generations in a effort to pass on knowledge and culture.
The yarning tent had several panels throughout the day, speaking on issues from traditional land management, connection to country, and recovery and resilience.
Aunty Ruth, an elder from the Macleay Valley region, spoke on the panel and said she was proud to be a part of the incredibly important event.
"I love this festival: the gathering, we get to meet family," she said.
"With COVID we haven't been together for a long, long time so getting back to linking with our sisters, brothers and children, who we haven't seen, with the bushfires and rain as well is wonderful.
"It's important for the young ones to listen. It's important for the landholders to learn, and it's important for us to give knowledge and understanding back to people on country so one day we [can] all enjoy this country."
Aunty Ruth was one of several people brought to tears when Charity asked the panel how she could begin to connect to her people having lost her family's history through dispossession dating back to the Stolen Generations.
"She broke my heart!" Aunty Ruth said.
Coming together of nations
The name of the festival represents the coming together of the 'saltwater' peoples of the coast, and the 'freshwater' peoples of the many rivers that run through the region.
The annual event has traditionally been held on Australia or Survival Day, but was this year rescheduled to coincide with the start of Reconciliation Week.
Dance performances were staged throughout the day, with different tents showcasing traditional crafts including bark canoe-making and weaving, as well as a film tent and exhibition space.
The event featured headline musical acts from world-renown classical violinist Eric Avery, country singer Glenn Skuthorpe, all-female hip hop group OETHA, and band Emma Donovan and The Putbacks.
Mr Avery said it was incredible to attend and perform at the festival for the first time given his mother's family was from Gumbaynggirr country.
"I've found the festival amazing. To perform here on my mother's and grandmother's country has just given me something, and it has been so special to see family."
Hopes pinned on Uluru Statement
As well as coinciding with Reconciliation Week, the Saltwater Freshwater Festival comes two days after National Sorry Day and a week after the newly elected Labor government committed to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Many at the festival expressed hope that First Nations people could gain a more meaningful political role in the country's government.
"We need to have our say because for too long we haven't been heard.
"Hopefully, it brings Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people together to understand Mother Earth is hurting and needs us."
