Sydney's Message Sticks festival at the Opera House has chosen to focus on traditional culture and ceremony this year, and it will mark the 200th anniversary of the death of Wollahraware Bennelong, the man who's name will always be linked to the Opera House site, on Bennelong Point.
He was arguably Indigenous Australia's first ambassador. Along with Yemmerewanye he travelled to England to represent Indigenous culture in 1792.
His companion never returned home but the Wangal man from the area now called Leichhardt in Sydney later took up residence on the harbourside Point where the Sydney Opera House now stands.
This year's Message Sticks Festival features an exhibition and a guided tour of the Opera House profiling the life of Bennelong.
Rhoda Roberts, head of Indigenous Programming at the Opera House, told NITV: “We hope lots of people will go away understanding a little bit more about this man who I think is quite misunderstood in our connected histories.”
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The festival aims to bring a greater understanding of Indigenous cultures to audiences.
It features a unique Tiwi Island fairytale production based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and there are ceremonies , talks, films and dances by twilight - both traditional and contemporary.
“Our dance is based on our ancestry and our kinship lines,” said Ms Roberts. “So everything from Torres Strait to Arnhem Land to here.”
Fourteen Yolgnu artists from Arnhem Land are presenting their culture at the festival. They'll be conducting their weaving, women's and men's ceremonies and dance demonstrations, headed up by Gumatj man, Djawa Burrawanga.
“It's about uniting to this country and also to this world that culture is a very important element to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” said Mr Burrawanga.
They are also calling for a cultural exchange. The Yolgnu mob are inviting everyone back to their beloved country to experience how they live first hand through unique micro tourism experiences.
Former head of what is now Tourism Australia, John Morse, visited the area with Mr Burrawanga.
“The first time Djawa invited me to go fishing with him, I looked for the fishing rod and I couldn't find the fishing rod. And then he produced a net and I thought we'd stand on the shore and cast the net out and they laughed at me.
"Then they gave me a spear and we had to walk a kilometre out into the depths of Port Bradshaw, up to our necks. And I said 'Are there crocodiles in here?' and they said 'yes', and I asked 'are there sharks in here?' and they said 'yes, but don't worry about those. We'll look after you.'”
Mr Morse has worked with the Yolgnu and helped formulate their plan to encourage tourists to go to Arnhem Land. He says this type of cultural tourism could well turnaround Australia's downturn in visitor numbers.
“There has always been a very, very strong desire by international visitors to experience indigenous culture in this country.”
Message Sticks kicks off tonight with the launch of Bennelong's exhibition.
On Friday there will be a major Opening Ceremony at dusk. You can also see artists like Tammy Anderson, Microwave Jenny, Troy Brady, the Street Warriors and the international hit show Sing Sing featuring Telek, Vika and Linda Bull and Pitjantjatjara singer, Frank Yamma.
