Yaama Ngunna Baaka Explained

Yaama Ngunna Baaka 2019 was a corroboree festival conceived by Bruce Shillingsworth, with a vision of initiating dialog with Elders.^[1]

The festival comprised a series of corroborees by the rivers in Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke, Wilcannia and Menindee.^[2] About twelve dance groups participated, and many travelled with them in convoy to each of the corroborees.^[3]

The corroboree at Wilcania was hosted by the Barkindji. The Barkindji fear their culture, which relates closely to the river, is being destroyed.^[4]

The Tal-Kin-Jeri Dance in Australia Group came from Adelaide and performed at the closing night near Menindee.^[5]

Notes and References

1. News: Collis . Andrew . 14 May 2019 . We want our rivers back . The South Sydney Herald . 8 January 2020.
2. Web site: Murphy . Jamieson . 27 Sep 2019 . Yaama Ngunna Baaka tours state's driest rivers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20191006045250/https://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/6409690/hundreds-of-people-spend-five-days-visiting-the-states-dry-rivers/ . 6 Oct 2019.
3. Web site: Evans . Rachel . 2019-09-27 . Yaama Ngunna Baaka Corroboree visits drought stricken Murray Darling communities . 2023-03-01 . Green Left . en.
4. News: Indigenous community say they've lost their culture to water mismanagement . 18 October 2019 . Aneeta . Bhole . SBS News . 8 January 2020 .
5. Web site: Burt . Miles . 5 Oct 2019 . Corroboree on the river . limited . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191006045248/https://bdtruth.com.au/main/news/article/11348-Corroboree-on-the-river.html . 6 Oct 2019 . Barrier Daily Truth.