RINGBALIN
Ringbalin is a multi-arts project which takes place along the Murray-Darling River, from Queensland to South Australia, uniting Indigenous communities through the maintenance of ceremonies and artefact making and the transfer of cultural knowledge from elders to young people.
The project began in 2010 and is aiming to become an annual event that includes the whole community, culminating in a spectacular closing ceremony in Goolwa. Ringbalin promotes the position of elders and brings young Indigenous people to take part in cultural life and become aware of their significant connection to the lands and waters along the Murray-Darling.
Major Sumner, Ngarrindjeri elder, is the Cultural Director of Ringbalin and the Tal-Kin-Jeri Dancers Inc.
“In 1899 there was a big ceremony at Raukkan and people came from all over South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. It was not until 1999, a hundred years later, that the next Ringbalin was performed at Raukkan, but more than 10,000 people came for that ceremony. Like the rivers, we are all connected,” said Major Sumner.
This travelling performance project stops along the River from Queensland, through to New South Wales, and ending in South Australia at the Murray Mouth and Goolwa.
Ringbalin has allowed young people along the journey to revitalise their culture by learning to ‘dance the river’.
For more information visit the Tal-Kin-Jeri Dancers Inc. Website
