Garma – ‘bump in’

Winding my way from Darwin to Arnhemland – the annual ‘stage’ for Garma – an event, a concept, a forum for meditating a joint future and throwing some light on the key issues that thread the debate between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in this country.

Staged by the Yothu Yindi Foundation – who strive to create economic opportunities and cultural development for the (Arnhemland) Yolngu people, Garma has been running for 16 years and, meanwhile, grown to a sizeable and prominent forum, attracting high profile political, media and VIP visitors.

Arnhemland

Due to its size (approx. 1500 people) and wildly remote location – the event crew employ a team of  60 voluntary helpers – the job:  ‘bump in’ early to help with the set up – then assist with the running of 4 days of a brilliant mixture of performances, presentations, camping together, eating together, discussion forums, campfire gatherings  –  and ‘bump out’ a couple of days after the last guests have departed – to help with the pack up.

‘Bump in’ – is a great way of describing how it feels if – like me – you don’t have enough time to drive there from Darwin – to cruise the country, gathering some visual  impressions about where you are. From Gove airport we were picked up and ‘dropped’ into the bush – the campground is nested in a forest of stringy bark trees – very important material for the bark painting art and artefacts that are so typical of this region.

just arrived – setting up camp with a group of volunteers

the Escarpment

There is just one look out point from the campground – the Escarpment – where we can see how close we are to the ocean.

This is where we are – very close to Yirrkala, Far East Arnhemland

The set up team I was assigned to kitted out around 1000 tents with comfy mattresses and sleeping bags – all part of the ‘package’ for the guests and visitors. Hands-on action, heat, dust and excitement in the air.

This year’s forum was themed ‘Responsibility, Reform and Recognition’ – here is an extract from Galarrwuy Yunupingu Am (the Chairman’s) welcome:

Garma is an idea that speaks of the place where the salt-water and the fresh-water meets and produces an event of such richness that all things are drawn to it and thrive. You learn from the moment and draw strength and inspiration from it . . . I have spent a lifetime seeking to find the balance between the Yolngu world and modernity. It is a task that has often worn me down as I have watched the Yolngu give and the outside world take. But I always take great strength from Garma where I see black and white engaged together in a time of genuine balance and harmony and it gives me great hope for the future – I continue to dream of the day when two waters will be one.