Indigenous media makers from across the country attend the 18th National Remote Indigenous Media Festival.
The 18th National Remote Indigenous Media Festival held in September at Yirrkalla in the Northern Territory was based on the theme: Our Stories from the Home of Land Rights.
The annual event hosted by the Indigenous Remote Communities Association (IRCA) in association with the Top End Aboriginal Bush Broadcasting Association (TEABAA) showcases the talents and voices of Indigenous media makers and includes keynote addresses, seminars, and workshops. It also creates an opportunity for producers, broadcasters to network and share stories, skills, and inspiration.
Kirstie Parker CEO of the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence and ABC Sports Broadcaster Charlie King delivered keynote addresses to the 2016 delegates.
The Rirratjingu clan of Yirrkala with a Bunggul (ceremony) featuring songmen and dancers from across the Arnhem Land region welcomed the 160 remote media workers and industry partners to this year's festival.
IRCA is the peak body for remote Indigenous media and communications, founded in 2001. IRCA currently represents over 100 hundred Remote Indigenous Broadcasting Services (RIBS) across Australia, supported by eight Remote Indigenous Media Organisations (RIMOs), plus other remote media producers and aspirant community groups. From July 2016, IRCA began expanding its representation and role to become the national peak body for Indigenous media and communications.
In Part 1 of our interview, IRCA General Manager Daniel Featherstone discusses with Kirstyn Lindsay the important role remote media makers play in Australia's media landscape, empowering communities through self-representation.
We also hear from the winners of the 18th National Remote Indigenous Media Festival Awards.
Pictured above areThe 8PAW Radio Network - winners of the Best Radio Documentary category for their 5 x 1hr Road Safety Shows. Find the full list of winners at http://www.irca.net.au/festival/2016-festival/awards.
IRCA thanked TEABBA(link is external) for this year's Festival and the Traditional Owners (Rirratijingu Clan), East Arnhem Regional Council(link is external) and the members of Yirrkala community for letting them hold the festival in their beautiful community.
Yirrkala is on the east coast of the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory - north-east Arnhem Land, 18 km south of Nhulunbuy with a population of around 700 people. It is well known for the 1963 Yirrikala Bark Petitions, catalysts for the Land Rights Act.
Pictured above - participants from the festival - photo by Wayne Quilliam.
Last year's festival. Festival Documentary from the 17th National Remote Indigenous Media Festival at Lajamanu, NT. Film by Julie-Anne Bennett, Anna Cadden, Talissa Kinley, Karmelliah McKenzie, Rowena Potts and Rachael Hocking. Edited by Anna Cadden. Featuring music by Lajamanu Teenage Band and North Tanami Band. © 2016 Indigenous Remote Communications Association