For the past 23 years it has grown to become the largest community-led one-day festival of Indigenous cultures, and this year featured a line-up with top First Nations talent like Steph Tisdale as MC, country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley, staunch rap sensation Barkaa, previous Eurovision contestants Electric Fields, and Native American dancers from Native Indigenous Enterprise.
With countless market stalls where you can give back and buy Black, activities for all ages from the Jarjums to Elders and various stages to watch dance performances or listen to the mob speaking out, there’s a buzz and energy that is hard to put into words. After the rally from Belmore Park to Victoria Park, mob come together to lean on each other, acknowledge our resistance and survival. An event for mob by mob.
This year Missing Perspectives asked three First Nations women at Yabun what it means to them to come together on January 26.
Violet, 24, Wonnarua
What does this date signify for you?
January 26 means to me, a day of mourning. A day of survival and resilience of First Nations people, particularly reflection as well. Reflecting on family and our ancestors and what they went through, how we survive and our resilience. It’s a very important significant day.
Why is it important to come together with other mob on this day?
I think it’s hugely important – when you look at the experiences of Indigenous people, like myself, you’re used to being the only Indigenous person in a room. Like you rarely see anyone, unless you come out with community and you come to these events. It’s hugely important. You get to see your mob and where you’re from and your mob. It’s awesome.
What’s your hope for the date of January 26 in the future?
January 26 shouldn’t be Australia Day. It should be a day of mourning and celebrating the resilience of Indigenous people and I think it’s criminal to have a barbie on a funeral. That definitely needs to change. My hope is that maybe they’ll come to these events.
Why do you love Yabun?
I love Yabun! I love the people, the culture, the community and all the cool merch you can get. You bump into family, it’s just awesome. Good vibes all around and everyone’s there to support you. You’re probably going through it on the day, but everyone else is too and it’s just nice to have other people.
Ava, 22, Wonnarua and Biripi
What does this date signify for you?
January 26 is a day of mourning. It’s a day of acknowledging that we’re surviving, we’re still here.
Why is it important to come together with other mob on this day?
It’s important to come together with the mob because we’re all mourning the same thing, we have to be connected with each other. Community is such a big thing, especially on this day, it runs so deeply to be together and be with the mob.
Why do you love Yabun?
I get to see all the talents that everyone has with their stalls and speaking up. I love the march that comes with Yabun.
What would you hope for January 26 in the future?
I don’t believe there should be a January 26 in the future. I believe we should change the date. For everyone to mourn and celebrate on the same day, equally as one.
Nioka, 23, Dunghutti
What does the date signify for you?
A lot of mourning and pain. But this is why I’m thankful for Yabun because at least we get to be together. Mobs from all around Australia and we even saw some Native Americans as well join us and it’s beautiful in that way, but it’s tough, like I had my little cry this morning, but there’s a lot of strength in the crowd.
Why do you love Yabun?
It’s wonderful to see so many people taking an interest in our culture. Especially as Aboriginal women, sometimes we get overlooked. Like this is our country and sometimes we don’t get to have much of a voice so to have people come and listen to us share our stories and share some our traditions, it’s really nice.
What would you hope for January 26 in the future?
I’d want people to know, and they should know by now anyway because we’ve been telling people for so long, that it isn’t fair to celebrate this day. It does mark the genocide, the rape of our country and of our people and it’s really tough for us and it’s so many year of fighting and there’s been no real change, other than people joining us at Yabun rather than celebrating Australia Day – which is great but I’d like to see a date change, definitely, and in the future when it is changed to something that doesn’t mark any kind of pain or massacre for our people and something that can be inclusive for everyone.