It is set to be held on Saturday March 29 at The Briars in Mount Martha.
The festival is a non profit endeavour designed to promote cross cultural awareness, and to also highlight the significant Indigenous population living on the Mornington Peninsula (approx. 1,000).
Baany to Warrna gets its name from the local Boon Wurrung word meaning water and the West Coast South Australian word for water. Maintaining language is important to identity and culture and the expression ‘water to water’ represents unity, sharing and collaborations.
In that spirit, the festival sets out to bring indigenous and non indigenous people in a family friendly outdoor event where Indigenous music, art, dance and culture will be showcased.
Also performing are musician and artist Nola Lauch (joined by fellow Mornington Peninsula resident Pete Dawson), hip hop storyteller Mau Power from the Torres Strait (his set includes traditional dance with a DJ and female soul singer), contemporary dancer Rheannan Port, Arnhem Land’s Yirrmal and the Yolngu Boys who blend ceremonial songs with pop song structures, award winning actor and playwright Tammy Anderson, the Indigenous Hip Hop Projects dancers and an African drum and dance troupe.
Children’s activities include didgeridoo classes, Indigenous arts and crafts, face painting and circus activities.
As part of the run-up to the festival, dance and art workshops will run through schools and local community groups.
The day’s opening event, at 2pm, features Supreme Court judge, Justice Kevin Bell, delivering a lecture and participate in a Q&A session with elders on constitutional recognition at the Briars Historic Homestead.
