A push towards a treaty between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians is expected to be a focus of the four-day event

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The annual Garma festival in northeast Arnhem Land opened for the 20th year on Friday with attendees told that Indigenous sovereignty would be a “gift for all the Australian people”.

At a ceremonial welcome at the Gulkula grounds on Gumatj country, senior Gumatj ceremony man, Djunga Djunga Yunupingu, said a year ago they had been speaking with hope about the Uluru statement and its three proposals for constitutional reform.

“At Uluru the Yolngu people gave a fire to the Anangu, and they lit it at the heart of our nation, spreading it to all our people and to all Australians,” said Yunupingu.

“Our ancient sovereignty is here, just like it says in the Uluru Statement. It is here and it is for all Yolngu people to appreciate but we want all people to walk with us. Two laws, two people, one country.”

We are here. We have survived. Help us take a stand for our nation's future | Jackie Huggins Read more

Unlike recent years, neither the prime minister nor opposition leader attended the event, which this year carries the theme of “truth telling”.

It’s expected the Uluru statement from the heart – which called for a voice to parliament, a truth-telling process and a makarrata (coming together to settle dispute) – as well as the push towards treaty will form much of the discussion at the four-day event.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Galarrwuy Yunupingu and Jack Thompson at the 2018 Garma festival in Arnhem Land. Photograph: Helen Davidson/The Guardian

“We have a gift for the Australian people. If you want it and if you do recognise it, then walk with us and travel with us to wayathu, which is a beautiful place called the future.”

The 2017 event was overwhelmingly dominated by the recently delivered recommendations of the prime minister’s referendum council, which endorsed the Uluru statement.

Last year Galarrwuy Yunupingu, chair of the Yothu Yindi Foundation, gave the government and opposition a deadline to come together to act on the recommendations, but before the festival was over Turnbull had already flagged his rejection of the voice.



He later claimed the recommendation proposed for a third chamber of parliament despite those who developed it saying it specifically did not.

On Friday Indigenous Affairs minister, Nigel Scullion, told the crowd Garma was “a time for engagement, for discussions, for truth telling … for recommitting to good ideas, or putting aside bad ones”.

Scullion said he’d represented federal cabinet at a meeting with Yolngu leadership in the Dilak council, on Thursday and the two “governments” had discussed how to work together.

Scullion suggested working with the Gumatj people was easier because of their “strong governance” and leader in Galarrwuy Yunupingu, but also said they represented hope.

“If we can do it at a level of nation to nation then it’s possible for every Aboriginal nation across the country to be able to have a crack.”

Some state and territory governments, including the NT, are currently in talks with Indigenous groups about treaty.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A member from the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu people prepares for the Bunggul traditional dance. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

NT minister for Aboriginal affairs, Ken Vowles, said the “time for talk is over”.

“We have a real appetite to make sure Aboriginal people are making decisions on their lands.”

Galarrwuy Yunupingu earlier this year publicly dismissed the NT government’s moves towards treaty, questioning a memorandum of understanding during his speech at the announcement of it at the Barunga Festival.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu was among those present more than 30 years ago when then prime minister, Bob Hawke, promised a treaty.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu did not speak on the treaty or the Uluru statement on Friday, instead criticising laws which prevent Indigenous people from hunting traditional foods such as turtles and dugong, which are also protected species.