The Burramattagal people are an inextricable part of Parramatta's history, and have been so for 60,000 years. Warami, an annual celebration of the region's longstanding Indigenous culture, looks to pay homage to that fascinating history, while looking towards the cultural vibrancy of the community today.
Warami, a Darug word meaning “good to see you”, is a festival which aims to bring local communities together in the spirit of inclusivity, positivity and cultural understanding. This year, all the festival's offerings have been relegated to a virtual format, making the festival even more accessible to viewers from around Sydney and beyond.
Kicking off with a range of educational resources and online stories from Stolen Generations survivors in honour of National Sorry Day, Warami comprises a range of activities and virtual events taking place over Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week – all accessible from home, in an online format, between May 26 to July 5.
The Reconciliation Week activities will run from May 27 to June 3, focussed around this year's theme: ‘In this together’, in honour of the 20th anniversary of Australia's journey as a reconciling nation. The week is packed with activities, like storytelling sessions and sessions on Torres Strait Islander culture – both educational and featuring song and dance – which aim to educate and energise.
Next up is NAIDOC Week, and there's a whole set of online events centred around arts, culture and language. You can learn Darug words at home, switch the kids on to a Nangami 'Dreaming' art session, or bust some moves at a dance session with the Jannawi Dance Clan. Check online for the dates and times you should be tuning in.
The grand finale of the festival will be Warami Live, a showcase of music hosted by comedian Sean Choolburra and featuring local talent the likes of electro-soul duo Bow and Arrow, country songstress Maddi Lyn and veteran Koori Radio host DJ Naian, which will be broadcast live to your screens on Sunday, July 5 from 12-2pm.
Check out the full program here.