The annual Quandamooka Festival launches on Sunday, July 2 (11am – 3pm) with a traditional smoking ceremony and Yura (welcome) at Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island.
The opening event takes place by the water's edge and will feature song, dance, traditional tucker, markets, workshops and music by First Nations’ artists Troy Jungaji Brady and Emily Wurramara, setting the tone for an expansive range of events over three months.
Q-Festival takes place in Redlands/Southern Moreton Bay islands with key events on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
The First Nations’ people of the region, the Quandamooka peoples, live and work in the region with cultural traditions stemming from tens of thousands of years of continuous occupation.
The Quandamooka Festival provides a unique opportunity to learn more about the sands, seas, lakes, creeks, catchments and creatures found across the Redlands/Moreton Bay islands, as well as participate in a range of activities and events including whale watching cultural tours, Kunjiels (corroborees), Indigenous sports, eco boat tours, art, weaving, bush tucker dining experiences, symposiums and collaborations with First Nations peoples from around the world.
Festival highlights include:
* Quandamooka H2O Exhibition from Monday, July 10 to Sunday, August 13 at the Redland Museum, Cleveland. The Q-Festival theme this year is water – the life giving element and the H2O exhibition will highlight the special connection between the aboriginal people of Quandamooka and the waters that dominate the landscape in which they live.
*Welcome the Whales (Yura Yalingbila) on Saturday, July 29 at Point Lookout. This event welcomes the start of the migration of humpback whales (yalingbila) past North Stradbroke Island. The blessing is accompanied by a festival of traditional dance, arts, children’s activities and live music, with co-writer of My Island Home, Neil Murray, and local female duo, Blacksalt, featured artists for the event. Special whale watching cultural tours will be available on the day and during the migration season.
*Quandamooka Beach Dining on Sunday, July 30 at Point Lookout. This is a pop up dining experience which will offer breakfast, lunch and dinner sessions with a backdrop of bushland, the ocean and whales migrating north.
* Deadly Voices: Spoken Word & Comedy night at 7pm on Friday, August 18 at Dunwich. Storytelling guests including the Queensland Poetry Festival’s indigenous and Arts Queensland poets in residence along with comedian Sean Choolburra and other local spoken-word artists will provide a night of ‘deadly’ entertainment. It will be followed by a free poetry and storytelling workshop on Saturday, August 19 (11.30am – 1.30pm).
*Kunjiel (Corroboree) September 23 and 24 at Dunwich. This is a two-day festival of first nations dance groups, art and crafts, bush tucker, stalls, and live music performances from many of Aboriginal Australia’s best musicians including Black Armband, Joe Geia and the Adam James Band.
Quandamooka Festival curator, Avril Quaill, said most events were free and family friendly.
“We are fortunate to be able to showcase a rich program of events in such a spectacular setting,” Ms Quaill said.
“Q-Festival 2017 will deliver up to 55 events across the Brisbane and Redlands region, with the main events on Minjerribah. This year the festival theme is based around water and the creatures that inhabit our waterways, such as whales, dolphins, dugongs and turtles. Waters and oceans connect peoples, nourish our environments and give life to all things across lands and seas.
Details and updates on quandamookafestival.com.au and www.facebook.com/quandamookafestival/
