The Garma Festival is an annual festival held in Gulkula, North-East Arnhem Land, which returned in 2022 after a COVID induced hiatus of two years.

It is an internationally reknowned Indigenous event, a coming together of more than 3000 people from across the nation that celebrates the cultural, artistic and ceremonial traditions of the Yolŋu people of North-East Arnhem land. Barker already has a deep connection with the Yolŋu people though our school, Dhupuma Barker, and in late July we had the great privilege of attending the Garma Festival with a contingent of 16 students and supporting staff. It was an incredible opportunity for the Barker Hornsby community to engage with the Yolŋu nation and continue to strengthen our relationship with the Gunyangara community. Students and staff spent four days camping in remote Arnhem Land, immersed in the rich cultural heritage of the Yolŋu people experiencing traditional miny’tji (art), ancient story-telling, manikay (song) and bunggul (dance). A reflection of our experience will be included in the next edition of The Barker. Manymak!