Rain didn't dampen the spirits of festival goers on Survival Day.
Jeremy Donovan was the NSW 2013 Australia Day Ambassador who delivered the keynote speech at the Taree new citizen's ceremony.
“You see the flags raised predominantly the union jack and the Australian flag and its was challenging for me to stand up and make a speech about what is Australia day but I think I always remind myself on today that we have a cultural responsibility to celebrate our identity our successes and you know what we're still here,” Mr Donovan said.
The Yalandji man later showed his talents as a musician playing both a South American flute and Yigi Yigi.
The celebration of survival was the message of the day.
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Murri hip hoppers “Last Kinection” sang their version "I Still Call Australia Home" saying their band represents the diverse views of the nation.
“It really kinda means more for us than it does for non-aboriginal people. They just have a bbq it's a holiday," they said
As the sun went down the Festival Director, Alison Page announced the location for next year will be Kempsey.
Then she passed on a paperbark message stick written in Gumbayngirr to Dhungutti Elder, Fred Kelly.
“We the people of Coffs Harbour give you this message stick to pass down to descendants across this land. We the people speak with success and celebration with one another forever,” Ms Page said.
A key highlight was the community participation in a newly created Saltwater Freshwater Dance choreographed by Jo Clancy.
The Festival finished with the emerging talents of Cairns band, the Medics who caught a charter flight from the Big Day Out in Melbourne for the occasion celebrating the 10 peoples of the Mid North Coast Region.
YABUN, SYDNEY
For those at Yabun in Sydney, it was also a reminder of what happened on 26th of January in 1788.
More than 25 thousand people from around the country gathered on Gadigal land in the heart of the city.
It was a day to remember those who fought hard for Indigenous Rights... those who have been affected by colonisation.
But overall the survival of our people and culture.
“Obviously as an Indigenous person this is a really mixed day for us you can't help but reflect on how our society changed irrevocably from that day,” Stan Grant said.
The Yabun Festival is held every year at Victoria Park on Gadigal Land, it's put together by the same mob who run Koori Radio.
The General Manager, Lily Shearer, says things have changed since her days of activism.
“I grew up in the time when we were protesting and swearing and there was a time and place for that, without we wouldn't have got where we are today but arts and culture is the roots of who we are.,” Ms Shearer said.
The very best of our culture was on display.
Archie Roach performed songs from his latest album with an all-star choir: Jack Charles, Microwave Jenny and Emma Donovan were among the performers.
These sorts of days are also incredibly important because of the voice, from our perspective. It's a celebration of ancient right through to contemporary.
People also gave their perspective on political debates in the Speak Out tent.
Co-Chair of the Congress of Australia's First Peoples Jody Broun talked about constitutional recognition and took the opportunity to sign up more of our mob for membership.
“There are people here from all over the country even here in Sydney so people get together they celebrate they feel strong and it's elf-empowering,” she said.
