NSW: Annual festival to celebrate Indigenous culture launched
SYDNEY, Aug 14 AAP - An annual festival that encourages people from all cultural backgroundsto share in the secrets of indigenous Australia was launched in Sydney today.
Director of the Sydney Olympic Arts Festival, Ms Rhoda Roberts, will head Sydney Dreaming'sartistic team.
Ms Roberts said the public's growing curiosity about indigenous customs and mythologyhad so far been largely neglected.
"Australians are becoming increasingly interested in the ancient stories, songlinesand traditional customs of our indigenous peoples," she said.
"A lack of ongoing public events touching mainstream audiences has not allowed peoplethe opportunity to express their respect and enthusiasm until now."
The celebration will begin with a colourful Garrabadu water ceremony at Sydney OlympicPark's Lake Belvedere Bicentennial Park on November 16 and 17.
The spectacle will bring together hundreds of performers from a plethora of cultural backgrounds.
Prior to the ceremony, Sydneysiders can sample bush tucker and participate in activitiessuch as sand painting and canoe rides.
Concerned with the loss of indigenous knowledge through the death of Aboriginal elders,the festival aims to preserve Indigenous Australia's Dreamtime stories.
In the lead up to the event, a series of public cultural indigenous experiences calledThe Muru Program will be held at the former Royal Australian Navy Depot in the SydneyOlympic Parklands.
AAP mj/arb
KEYWORD: INDIGENOUS FESTIVAL
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