First Nations culture at the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra, Australia

The three day celebration of Australia’s multiculturalism is celebrated in the nation’s capital, Canberra, from February 10 to 12. In addition to the cultures of the pacific, the Middle East, Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa, the music, dance and stories of Australia’s First Nations people attracted a large audience.

Ceremonies play an important part in the life of First Nations peoples, from chanting, singing, dancing and music. They include initiation of boys and girls into adulthood as well as everyday life. The songs and dances performed during the National Multicultural Festival include the collecting of honey, grinding food, and celebrating important events. Using the unique and iconic sounds of the didgeridoo and clap sticks, they beat time to tell the audience of their stories and culture.

MARTINA NICOLLS

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MARTINA NICOLLS is an international human rights-based consultant in education, healing and wellbeing, peace and stabilization, foreign aid audits and evaluations, and the author of: The Paris Residences of James Joyce (2020), Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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