To many, Australia Day symbolises the beginning of the mourning still felt by Indigenous people.

That mourning includes intergenerational trauma along with the loss of sovereign land rights, the loss of family and the loss of the right to practice culture and language.

But it will always be a day of survival too. Despite colonisation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have survived. Their culture survives.

While some marches and rallies focus on other important fights — Indigenous rights, a voice to Parliament, a call for a treaty, constitutional recognition and changing the date — survival has become a constant theme for festivals and ceremonies held on January 26 around the country.

They are modern day gatherings that bring people together to appreciate the oldest continuing culture on the planet through corrobborees, live music, art, stalls, workshops, elders' and jarjum (kids) tents, food and much more.

Here are some of the survival events happening around the country this year.



WugalOra ceremony and Yabun, New South Wales

Last year's WugalOra ceremony. ( AAP: Ben Rushton )

Clarence Slockee, the team leader for visitor services at Barangaroo, said that the survival of culture will always be a cause for celebration.

"By reminding people that regardless of how you celebrate what it means to be Australian, we are still here, we are still relevant, and we continue to maintain the world's oldest living culture."

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are resilient and have endured incredible hardship throughout the past 231 years, yet we have survived and will continue to celebrate our survival." he said.

Mr Slockee said there were multiple events happening at the Barangaroo reserve this year to celebrate survival.

On Australia Day morning, the Premier and Governor of NSW will celebrate the traditional custodians at the WugalOra morning ceremony.

This is followed by the free "Was and Always Will Be" concert that features live acts, storytelling, and a live broadcast by Koori radio.

Workshops were held in the lead up to Australia Day on possum skin art, spear making and weaving.

Weaving workshops are one the events offered at Barangaroo in the lead up to January 26. ( Facebook: barangaroosydney )

Mr Slockee said these expressions of culture are a way of reminding Australians "that we are still here."

"Events such as WugalOra can be viewed as performances due to the contemporary format, they are still an important way of passing down culture as the core elements of music, dance, language and ceremony are at the heart of the event" he said.

"Given that the broader population are still relatively uneducated in relation to Aboriginal culture, history and heritage, events like these are a way of educating people."

The crowd joins in with dancers at the Yabun 2017 festival. ( Facebook: Yabun Festival )

The Yabun Festival has transformed into the large festival held in Sydney's Victoria Park today.

Naomi Moran is the manager of Indigenous news outlet, the Koori Mail, a long time sponsor of the festival.

"I've attended Yabun for many years from when it used to be called 'Survival' back in the day."

"I remember one of the very first events, it was held over at Waverley in Sydney. It just keeps getting bigger and better and I'm always happy to support the event in any way that I can" she said.

"To be actively involved in educating the nation about the true events that are associated with that period in time is so important."

Ms Moran also said events like Yabun are a chance for Indigenous people to share their culture and "a shared future as a nation".

Naomi Moran (left) at Yabun, 2017 with MC Luke Carroll (middle) and ex NRL star Dean Widders. ( Facebook: Yabunfestival )

"When you see the thousands of people who attend Yabun and other events, acknowledging our peoples survival, it makes you proud that we are always willing to put the first foot forward in working together with non-Indigenous Australia" she said.

"It's completely open and accessible and people can walk through off the street."

"They may not have planned to attend, but you certainly can't walk by without staying and seeing what it is all about. And that's just who we are as a people, we loving sharing culture, we love teaching and showing people who we are."

Belgrave Survival Day, Victoria

The survival of two Indigenous cultures are celebrated at the Belgrave Survival Day event. ( Instagram: belgravesurvivalday )

The Belgrave Survival Day in Melbourne festival celebrates Native American culture as well.

"It begins with the smoking ceremony then includes a welcome to country, Indigenous and Native American dance and a didge mediation from Uncle Jowi ... it also features food and information stalls," said Drew Cummings, a co-ordinator of Belgrave Survival Day.

Mr Cummings also said events such as Belgrave can serve as part of a healing process for Indigenous peoples.

"There are a variety of events around the country on January 26 that contribute towards reconciliation, towards understanding the date as a day of mourning and towards educating the broader community on the world's longest living culture.

"So many people from diverse backgrounds can share in celebrating Indigenous culture and bring about a healing spirit — that is the essential focus of this event."

A healing spirit is an essential focus at the Belgrave Survival Day. ( Facebook: belgravesurvivalday )

Mr Cummings also believes the theme of survival is vital to Australia Day.

"Our focus on 'survival' is key to provoking further thought and consideration across the broader community in that January 26 represents something other than just the planting of the English flag.

"More importantly, it represents an unparalleled damaging moment in Australian history and the beginning of this survival story that is truly one of enormous pain, persistence and outright inspiration" he said.

Benarrawa ceremony and Townsville Survival Day, Queensland

Flags at the Benarrawa Survival Day ceremony on the Brisbane river. ( Facebook: benarrawacommunityhub )

Uncle Steven Coghill is an Aboriginal elder and a key member of the Benarrawa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group in Brisbane.

He is one of the traditional custodians that gives the welcome to country during the annual Survival Day Ceremony at Graceville, along the Brisbane River.

"I have no problem with how people want to celebrate Australia Day. However, there should always be an Indigenous presence at these events so people know we are still here — we still have our culture."

Survival Day banner at the Big Eye Theatre event in 2014. ( Facebook: Big Eye Theatre )

As an elder, Uncle Steven attends many events to give welcome to country. He said ceremonies like the annual Benarrawa Survival Day are a learning experience for non-Indigenous people.

"It's more of a cultural thing for them, to teach them, because we know our culture."

Organiser Ros Sailor says the "Survival Day" event hosted my Big Eye Theatre in Townville will include cultural performances, traditional foods and interactive activities.

"Events like these need to continue to keep the culture strong, it's where we get to showcase who we are as first nation people," Ms Sailor said.

"The theme for Survival Day is important, it's how we get our messages out to the broader community and to our community to listen to your tribal voice."

Tandanya Survival Day, South Australia

The Tal-Kin-Jeri Dance Group at the 2017 Tandanya Survival Day. ( Supplied: Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute )

Hosted by Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute, Survival Day is held at the Semaphore Foreshore in Adelaide.

Jacqui Clarke is the main co-ordinator, she explained why it's important to celebrate survival on January 26.

"While it is a day of remembrance it can also be a day of coming together as a nation and celebrating how far we've come through an all-inclusive day family day representing the survival of our people," Ms Clarke said.

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Events in other states