Article written by Sera-Lyn Terare.
The Quandamooka Festival is a celebration of culture, country and the people of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). This celebration is held in the three months of winter; June, July and August. The Festival kicks off on June 2 with a Yura! (Welcome) event which was held on the waterfront of Goompi (Dunwich, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island). The opening day of the festival included many activities, song and dance bush influences and contemporary Quandamooka food which is just a small taste of the events to come during the three-month long festival.
Who are the Quandamooka people you ask? Quandamooka people have lived on Minijerribah (known as North Stradbroke Island) for what many scientists and historians believe to be 25,000 years, however, the Quandamooka people have said that their ancestors have been people of Minjerribah for a lot longer than the believed 25,000 years. The Quandamooka peoples are made up of three clans, the Nughi of Mulgumpin (also known as Moreton Island) and the Nunukul and Gorenpul of Minjerribah.
The Quandamooka festival is a chance for tourists and the local community members to learn more about the perspective of the Quandamooka peoples. Their perspectives about the sands and seas, catchments and creatures that are part of the Redlands/Moreton Bay Islands. The festival has an abundance of activities that include whale watching, Kunjiels (corroborees), Indigenous sports, art, music, dance, and bush tucker dining experiences among other activities that are held throughout the months of winter.
There are over 30 events during the 3 months of the Quandamooka festival with the Yura! (Welcome) event kicking off in the early days of June and the festival is now in full swing. The upcoming events that I personally feel should be highlighted is Buangan Biyigi – Dolphin Day, QYAC Native title determination celebrations, Isaiah Firebrace Free NAIDOC Week concert, GOOMPI COMMUNITY NAIDOC CELEBRATION, KUNJIEL (CORROBOREE), all of which are free events.
BUANGAN BIYIGI – DOLPHIN DAY
This event is to be held on Sunday 1 July, 11am – 3pm at Pulan Pulan (Amity Point) Foreshore, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
Buangan is the word for dolphin, the totem of the Quandamooka peoples. This event is a local event where you are able to learn and celebrate Buangan at Pulan Pulan. You are given information on how to interact with dolphins in a respectful and culturally appropriate way.
This event is a free and family-friendly event where you will be immersed in culture, traditional ceremony, song and dance, market stalls and workshops to name a few examples of activities that are presented on this day.
QYAC Native Title Determination Celebrations
This event is held Wednesday 4 July at Dunwich Public Hall, Goompi (Dunwich), Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
On the fourth of July, there will be a celebration and commemoration of the recognition of the Quandamooka people’s rights to the land and sea on and around North Stradbroke Island known as Minjerribah. On the day it will be six years since Justice Dowsett of the Federal Court of Australia handed down judgement of recognition and from this you will hear guest speakers talk about native title, self-determination and other Indigenous issues.
This is a free event but you will need to RSVP by contacting the QYAC, you will find their information below.
Info: QYAC Office (07) 3415 2816 Email: admin@qyac.net
Isaiah Firebrace free NAIDOC Week concert
Isaiah Firebrace will be performing at the RPAC Piazza and Concert Hall, Middle Street, Nandeebie (Cleveland) on Sunday 8 July, 1pm-4:30pm.
You may know Isaiah Firebrace from X-Factor where he won in 2016 and as the Australian representative at Eurovision in Ukraine with his song Don’t Come Easy, where he was placed ninth in the Grand Final.
Isaiah is a talented Indigenous singer who has been described as a role model for the young people of Australia and shows his passion for inspiring the young people that if they can dream it that they can do it if they put their minds to it.
The free concert is held during NAIDOC Week and is a perfect opportunity for those who are fans, or people new to his music, to see him performing live as part of the NAIDOC Week celebrations in Redland City.
There will also be a large range of cultural activities on the RPAC Piazza before Isaiah steps on stage.
Full details available on www.rpac.com.au
Goompi Community NAIDOC Celebration
Friday 20 July, 9am-3pm at Goompi (Dunwich), there’ll be a free NAIDOC celebration which will include organisations from both local and mainland who will be joining forces to deliver an event of family friendly cultural activities.
The location of this event hasn’t been determined yet but if you would like more information regarding the NAIDOC Celebration, visit the website listed here; https://sites.google.com/qyac.net.au/festival/events?authuser=0
Kunjiel (Corroboree)
On Saturday 25 August, 10:30am at Ron Stark Oval, Goompi (Dunwich), Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) is a free family friendly closing event of the festival season. The tourists and local communities are welcome to join the closing celebration of the three-month long festival of Quandamooka culture. You’ll be greeted by the Quandamooka Peoples First Nation dance groups and a celebration of a shared cultural experience and entertainment. This event is a drug and alcohol free event which will showcase Indigenous art and weaving activities, bush tucker, stalls, art and crafts and Quandamooka cuisines and more.
For more information about the Quandamooka Festival and the events that are yet to be held in the next two months, visit the websites below:
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