*Milaan Dhiyaan dance group led by Locky & Fleu Dennis - Snap By Stephen Wilson Barker*

Baiame's Ngunnhu Festival returned to the banks of the swollen Ba-wun River on the 9th-11th April for the fifth year at Weir Park, Brewarrina. Presented by Moogahlin Performing Arts & the Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum with support from the Brewarrina Shire Council, Bre LALC and the Bre RSL Club.

Friday: gather at the world's oldest human-made structure & longest continual meeting place

Friday began unofficially with tours by Bradley Hardy from the Cultural Museum and Mark “Munki Muk” Ross broadcasting Koori Radio Show ‘Making Tracks’ Live & Deadly from Baiame’s Ngunnhu. The Opening was led by local matriarchs with a Welcome to Country by Melissa Kirby in Ngemba & English and an opening speech by Deputy-Mayor, Cllr: Vivian Slacksmith.

Corroboree began with the perfect backdrop of the sunset upon the Ngunnhu with Ngemba/Murrawarri male dance group led by Donald Shillingsworth, followed by Lacey Boney with the Dhinewan Dancers. This was followed by Milan Dhiiyaan a dance group of central NSW that has relationships to the Ngunnhu through Yuwaalaraay, Gomeroi, and Wailwaan Nations. The Barkindji Baaka dance crew closed the night joined by all the dance groups with a shake-a-leg (show off dance), including members from the audience and the Moogahlin team.

The crowd watching Milaan Dhiiyaan begin their performance - Snap by Stephen Wilson Barker

Saturday: Family & Cultural Day

This year Belinda (Linda) Boney joined Moogahlin Performing Arts as the festival Project Coordinator, engaging local arts and community stalls. Stalls included Brumbies Rugby Club selling hot off the press merchandise, Yadhamayi - Goodman Group playing footy comps with the birralees (children) with prizes for all, The Cricket Club cooked up a BBQ, nearby were Essential Oils and Soaps stall by Amy Gordon, as well as delicious curries with Johnny Cakes by Natalie Boney & Geraldine Weatherall keeping us sustained, whilst Googars Rugby League Club ladies keeping us all hydrated.

The Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum conducted sell out tours of the Ngunnhu and museum. Throughout the day biralees and their parents/carers/guardians were fishing down by the water, whilst Elders cooled off with tea, coffee, water and snacks in the Elders tent, entertained by Dhungutti man and Redfern Undertaker, Robbie Dungay.

The Cultural Arts activities were embraced by biralees and adults alike, with the community invited to leave their handprints on a large painted mural by Karen Boney. Dandaloo Su and Tracey Walford were kept busy with an all-day weaving workshop, a highlight and an emotionally cathartic time for all who participated. Duncan Biles demonstrated his wood carving techniques and sold his hand-made authentic products. The day concluded with a dance workshop led by Milaan Dhiyaan proprietors, Fleur & Laurance Magick Dennis.

At 6pm Moogahlin Performing Arts played Movies Under the Stars with the 2019 film “Emu Runner” a film set in Bre featuring many locals in front of and behind the camera. It was a magical night - even with the hungry mozzies buzzing around!

Dobby plays his music for locals and tourists at the Baiame’s Ngunnhu Festival Sunday Concert - Snap by Stephen Wilson Barker

Sunday: Closing Ceremony Concert & Fish Feast

The Sunday concert began around 12pm, MC’d by Mark “Munkimuk” Ross with a stellar line-up of artists strongly connected to the Ngunnhu, including; Yuwaalaraay/Yorta Yorta multi-instrumentalist, Warren Mason playing and singing beautiful tunes in English and language. WARRANGU; RIVER STORY touring artists, Kelsy Iris, support act and DOBBY were up next.

Kelsey Iris sang beautiful melodies in Yuwaalaraay & English, sharing stories about her old people as teachers and leaders, especially her grandparents from both sides of her family, Yuwaalaraay & Murrawarri. DOBBY then brought his unique hip-hop soundscapes with WARRANGU; RIVER STORY this project is the outcome of The Peter Sculthorpe Fellowship which was awarded to DOBBY in 2017. Support artists included a DJ, pianist & a little backup from Kelsey Iris. His music brought the voices of many locals including Uncle Brad Steadman, Aunty Lily Shearer, Uncle Bruce Shillingsworth, Aunty Josie Byno, Bradley Gordon, and Tom Barker.

Tahnee & Jode Arnold two Ngemba siblings who hadn’t been back to Brewarrina in two decades played an emotionally stirring set with the beauty of the river, people and connectedness bringing Tahnee to tears mid-set. The crowd cheered her on and with a hug from her cousin, Lily Shearer, Tahnee reset herself and gave a soulful rendition of some favourite RnB artists.

As the sun began to set in the big blue sky the concert was concluded with a set from folk/rock group Gii Music led by Gomeroi/Biripi man Troy Russell, bringing a moving rendition of The last Shot, a set of songs sharing NSW stories from their debut EP. The soulful voice of Liela Hamilton was supported by Bree Baxter on fiddle/violin, Chris Beltran on guitar & ukulele with Troy Russell on slide-guitar & DOBBY on piano & drums to assist that resonated throughout the river banks. Mary Waites and her daughter Doreen cared for the Elders Tent whilst Retta Ann Ferguson and team; Tony, Mello and Frayne cooked up a big fish feast using the local SES BBQ trailer, and the Cricket Club BBQ returned selling the last of their meat.

Gii Music featuring Dobby on the drums - Snap by Stephen Wilson Barker

Moogahlin Performing Arts Co-founder Lily Shearer handing over to 2022 Baiame’s Ngunnhu Festival Director Belinda Boney - Snap By Stephen Wilson Barker

Future of the festival

Moogahlin Performing Arts are excited to mentor and hand over the festival to a consortium of local organisations led by new Festival Artistic Director, Belinda Boney who is already working on Baiame’s Ngunnhu Festival 2022 with Moogahlin’s Artistic Director, Lily Shearer and staff to grow this important social impact project, to ensure the sustainability of the natural landscape through the process of cultural arts & community development.

Baiame's Nguunhu Festival is presented by Moogahlin Performing Arts and Brewarrina Aboriginal Cultural Museum with support from Create NSW, NSW Aboriginal Lands Council, Australia Council for the Arts, Brewarrina R.S.L, Outback Arts, Bre LALC, the Brewarrina Shire Council and RED.I.

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Top – Kids playing in the sand. • Bottom - Boney family, Akala Newman & Frayne Barker at the Fish Feast,- Snap By Stephen Wilson Barker

A Reflection on Baiame’s Ngunnhu Festival 2021

Friday: gather at the world's oldest human-made structure & longest continual meeting place

Saturday: Family & Cultural Day

Sunday: Closing Ceremony Concert & Fish Feast

DALARA WILLIAMS JOINS MOOGAHLIN PERFORMING ARTS AS 2021 ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE

A REFLECTION ON KOORI GRAS