Indigenous Culture Support (ICS) case studies

The Galiwin’ku Gumurr Marthakal Healthy Lifestyle Festival

The Galiwin’ku Gumurr Marthakal Healthy Lifestyle Festival, first held in 2001, is an annual event organised by the Galiwin’ku Community in northeast Arnhem Land on Elcho Island. The festival has been supported by the Australian Government since 2008, with funding provided through Indigenous Culture Support (ICS). The main theme of the festival is strengthening traditional understandings of health and healing through strong cultural frameworks and local ownership. The festival draws community-wide attendance; particularly children and activities include traditional healing workshops, bush food gathering and cooking, a community market, traditional cultural workshops, modern and traditional dance workshops and community concerts.

In 2008, several high profile Indigenous bands performed at the festival and held workshops with local musicians, this resulted in the development of songs, advocating healthy lifestyles and the formation of a sustainable business model for musicians in isolated communities.

In 2010, the festival was the most successful yet, with over 3000 people attending and 90% of the planning and implementation undertaken by local community members. The Galiwin’ku organisers also assisted other remote Yolngu communities to develop experience in festival management by inviting their community organisers, artists and performers to participate in a mentor program in the lead-up to the festival. Galiwin’ku mentors worked closely with members of the other communities to help them initiate their own cultural and healthy lifestyle events.

In the 2011-12 funding round, Skinny Fish Music was successful in obtaining $30,000 (ex GST) in triennial funding to deliver this festival.  The festival contributes to the Closing the Gap agenda - the Australian Government recognises the role of the event in engaging community members and increasing knowledge, particularly of young children. This is critical in achieving long-term improvements in health and welfare.