A celebration of Aboriginal culture will be held in Wilyakali/Broken Hill this Saturday and Sunday with the arrival of the very first Blak Markets in town at Sturt Park.
Saturday will see 20 Aboriginal stallholders from the Outer West among a festival program of culture and performance. A Welcome To Country and Smoking Ceremony will start at 10am followed by Indigenous dances, singing performances, and hands-on weaving workshops across the day, while bushfood will be available to eat.
On Sunday, there will be several tours and workshops throughout the day. A tour around Menindee Lakes with Wontanella Tours will depart from Copi Hollow at 9am AEST while the bus for the Mutawintji Heritage Tour will depart Broken Hill at 7:30am ACST.
A make-your-own bullroarer workshop – using traditional techniques – with local artist Clinton Kemp at Amanya Mitha Indigenous Arts in Broken Hill at 76 Gypsum St between 10am and 12:30pm will be on Sunday.
“The Blak Markets are a wonderful way to connect with Aboriginal businesses directly, build relationships with the local community and learn about Aboriginal culture,” First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation CEO, Peter Cooley, said.
“You can do this with the peace of mind you are supporting 100 per cent Indigenous-owned and operated enterprises, which in turn are helping our industries to increase economic opportunities and build generational wealth for future generations.
“The tours on the Sunday provide visitors the opportunity for a real weekend of celebration of Aboriginal culture happening in and around Broken Hill.”
Local Elder and Co-Founder of Amanya Mitha Indigenous Arts, Paul Kemp, says, “the Markets coming to the Far West will be good for everyone. It will help share and connect people to our culture and encourage the next generation.”
Clair Bates, an Aboriginal stallholder who will be giving a weaving workshop on Saturday, added, “the Blak Markets coming to the Far West will create a platform for our Indigenous artists to show how they can produce their products and get them to the wider community”.
To purchase tickets ($50) for the artefact-making workshop on Sunday, visit https://blakmarkets.com.au/products/make-your-own-bullroarer-workshop.
To book in for the tour around Menindee Lakes (from $80), visit https://www.wontanella.com.au/booking-calendar/wontanella-wanderings?referral=service_list_widget, and for the Mutawintji Heritage Tour, visit https://mutawintjiheritagetours.com.au/tour-bookings/.
For more information on the weekend’s events overall, contact Sarah Martin on 0499 252 599 or email [email protected]
