Guringai Festival

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Celebrate Aboriginal culture and heritage in North Sydney with up to 15 weekend events to choose from at the 2009 , beginning May 29 until July 12.

This year’s activities include guided bushwalking tours, live performances, film nights, art exhibitions, workshops, storytelling, and a bush tucker cooking demonstration presented by celebrity chef, Mark Olive.

With 2009 declared by the United Nations as the “International Year of Reconciliation”, the officially opens during Reconciliation Week, commencing the weekend festivities with local Indigenous art exhibitions by Jessica Birk and r e a.

Examine colonialism, culture and contemporary Indigenous identity in r e a’s “Head On” exhibition at the Manly Art Gallery & Museum, or see artist Jessica Birk’s Guringai perspective on Narrabeen Lagoon in her “Caring for Country - Connections to Sea” exhibition at Pittwater’s Coastal Environment Centre, this Friday evening from 6:30pm.

For those who prefer to be out and about amongst Sydney’s natural surroundings, there are two guided bushwalking tours by the water this Saturday and Sunday at Berry Island and Bilarong Reserve offering Indigenous insights into the land and its history.

Explore artefactual midden sites, behold ancient Aboriginal etchings and taste-test tucker from the native Sydney bushland while enjoying a nice morning tea courtesy of the Aboriginal Sites Guided Tour, with a free mini-bus service also provided for travel between the Berry Island and Tambourine Bay sites.

For a more hands on approach, you can learn to weave your own works of art using native plants at the Weaving Words with Wisdom tour, set against the picturesque backdrop of Narrabeen Lakes, with lunch also available for just $35.

The aspiring chef’s tastes are also catered for at Manly Council Chambers Forecourt this Sunday as leading Aboriginal chef, Mark Olive, cooks up a storm using native ingredients for all to see and sample. Mark will also be available for autographs and a brief chat after the demonstration for those keen on meeting the celebrity chef.

For further information on more exciting Indigenous events in the coming weeks, visit the website to download a copy of the program guide, or call 9970 1170.

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