ARTISTS

Cultural Director - Major 'Moogy' Sumner AM is a world renown performer and cultural ambassador of Ngarrindjeri arts, crafts, martial arts and traditional culture.

His work spans performance, traditional dance and song, cultural advice, and arts and crafts, such as wood carving, and martial arts techniques using his handcrafted traditional shields, clubs, boomerangs and spears. He is a strong supporter of innovative art and has featured in many media productions and cultural collaborations. 

Aunty Ellen Trevorrow AM is a world-renown artist and master cultural weaver. Her woven works and sculptures are exhibited at events and galleries internationally [including the National Gallery of Australia, National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of South Australia]. 

Thousands of individuals and groups have visited Camp Coorong and participated in her weaving and cultural storytelling workshops. Sharing her culture through weaving with the younger generations is a key focus for Ellen. She will utilize her artworks and stories as a part of her facilitation across the initiative.

“....My life is based from Murrunggung to Meningie and that’s were I still am today, here with my family, weaving. Its cultural weaving because I use the same rushes that my Old people used - it’s the three-pronged type of fresh water rushes - there’s a lot of different types of rushes, but this is one that was used because it lasts a long time. Weaving is not just something I do to make money. I don’t sell a lot. I work towards exhibitions. I love teaching. I love sharing the basket weaving.” 

We are very excited to announce that Barkindji Song Women Nancy Bates will be sharing her powerful voice and music with us under the stars on Friday night.

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Nancy Bates is a First Nations composer, writer, educator, and proudly Barkindji. With cultural ties to communities running the length of the Baarka, she is river woman living a multifaceted life, intertwining music, education, and advocacy to weaponise and resist colonisation. From 2013 to 2017, Nancy completed a musical apprenticeship under the mentorship of renowned Song Man, Uncle Archie Roach. This experience has spurred her on to become a powerful presence both on stage, and off.

Recognising her exceptional contributions to the music industry, Nancy Bates has been honoured as an Ambassador for the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).

Through the ‘Songs Inside’ film project, Nancy teaches ukulele and songwriting to women in prison, giving them voice, and freedom of expression within a colonial punishment system. 

Tal-Kin-Jeri Dance Group was established in 1997 by Ngarrindjeri elders Uncle Moogy and wide Loretta Sumner. Tal-Kin-Jeri delivers cultral performances and workshop in schools, commuinity events and festivals and has performed in the US, Canafa, South Korea, India, England, NZ and France. The group has 25 members, aged from five to 70, and perform animal and food gathering dances

“When we are dancing I hope people are watching very carefully because we will invite them up to dance with us. It (the dance) is very special because it is honouring the animal and the land … when you start dancing it puts you somewhere else." Uncle Moogy. 

Walla Mulana (meaning “Spirit of the Water” in Yorta Yorta language) Dance group. Walla Mulana, are a group of senior Aboriginal women who have come together to spiritually reignite and weave together the living stories of their kinship families of yesteryear in dance, storys and song.

Each member is an artist in their own right and have connected their individual crafts to each other, recognising ancestral blood lines that draws them together and the living stories of their kinship families that camped along the waterways.

In keeping with their family connection and guided by the stars, they follow the walking trails of their old people across the land.

The clan sisters are travelling from the upper country waterways from as far as Albury, Wodonga, Yarrawonga, Shepparton, Barmah, Echuca, Mathoura, Lake Boga and Mildura and across the land from Bendigo to reconnect and tell their stories through dance and song at Dupang Pangari festival on the Coorong near Meningee in South Australia.

Dancers: Emma Stenhouse, Sonia Cooper, Glennys Briggs, Valda Murray, Treahna Hamm, Janice Muir, Denise Morgan, Glenda Nicholls,  Janet Bromley, Sherry Nakalevu and sitting front Rochelle Patten 

Maarli Nhuungkhus Pikilarna Maarni - Mildura Dance Group

Men/Women and children dancing together to strengthen aboriginal songlines, Dreamtime stories and cultural values. 15 different language groups together dancing as one in community healing our spirits looking after our Mind Body and soul and our future our children. 

Buuja Buuja Butterfly Dance Group  are a Sydney based dance group, having formed in 2014 under the leadership of Wiradjuri Woman Rayma Johnson who also has family bloodline connections with Yorta Yorta, Yuin & Bidgigal Nations. Rayma has been a instrumental in the cultural revitalisation of Wiradjuri songs and dancers in regional NSW since the late 1990's.

Buuja Buuja Butterfly has performed at events include Yabun 2014-2023, Opera House & Barangaroo Reserve, Griffith Survival Day, Eora NAIDOC @ Carriageworks, Welcoming of the Colombian Women's soccer team for FIFA & Supply Nations event at the ICC centre in Darling Harbour, Pemulwuy (the block) Redfern Opening & Cocoparra Corroboree Event at Cocoparra National Park on Wiradjuri Country. 

"Marruk Waripa," is an Indigenous dance group hailing from the heart of Swan Hill, Victoria. This dynamic group brings to life the rich cultural tapestry of the Wamba Wemba people and the surrounding nations, captivating audiences with their performances that echo the ancient rhythms of the land. Founded in the spirit of preserving and celebrating their ancestral heritage, Marruk Waripa formally Swan Hill Aboriginal Dance Group, was established in 2019 by a group of passionate individuals on their journey of cultural rediscovery.

Marruk Waripa is dedicated to sharing the beauty and resilience of our culture through the art of dance. Their mission goes beyond entertainment; it is a heartfelt endeavour to foster understanding, appreciation, and respect for Indigenous traditions. The group aims to bridge cultural gaps, dispel stereotypes, and create a space where the community can come together to embrace the diversity that enriches the Australian landscape.

Of Desert and Sea is a contemporary dance collective made up of young Aboriginal women hailing from language groups across South Australia. Their dancers use contemporary cultural dance to connect with culture, kinship, traditional stories and language. They use elements of traditional cultural practice to inform contemporary movement to share their stories today. 

Eskatology - With over a decade of experience writing and performing within the Australian Hip Hop scene, Indigenous (Ngarrindjeri) artist Jono Stier known as Eskatology has proven his longevity as an artist and steadfast approach to producing thought-provoking music, while mentoring young minds through writing workshops and his activism within the community Eskatology Has had multiple releases throughout his career, including 4 Albums, two EPs and a couple Mixtapes, which has gained him the attention and support of artists such as Mau Power, Seth Sentry, Butterfingers and renowned American rapper Xzibit. 

Touching on socio-political themes and the disadvantages faced as a First Nations person, Eskatology finds strength and power in his Indigenous roots to speak about such issues through his work. Driven by his own experiences with mental health struggles, Eskatology uses the power of spoken word to work through his emotions and share a connection with those who can find solace in his work.

THE MUIRS -- About 12 years ago Ian with wife Glennys (an established Yorta Yorta/Wiradjuri visual artist) developed an act singing some old tunes and re-arranging some of their original songs to suit a newly developed vocal style. Glennys inherited a love of music from her father who travelled in a vaudeville band with Uncle Jimmy Little’s father.

Musical influences vary, with Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Louvin Brothers, Gram Parsons being just some of their favourites. The Muirs are keen on any music that gets you singing along or tapping your feet. The Muirs latest album ‘Salt on my Pillow’ attracted the interest of Checked Label Services and is now being distributed worldwide.

A long-term friendship with Chad Morgan led to The Muirs touring as Chads permanent support act, playing their original music and favourite covers at all major venues and country music festivals around Australia. Glennys and Ian recently performed their unique blend of Country on the Rock n’ Country Supercruise with headline act Suzi Quatro and other top rock and country performers.

THE MUIRS have perfected a sound of their own, establishing a growing fan base around people who appreciate a more traditional style of Americana/Roots music.

Sonia Smith is a proud First Nations Kokatha Singer and Songwriter from the West Coast of South Australia, living & working on Kaurna country.

Sonia’s powerful music speaks of her life journey, struggles, love & triumphs.  Sonia shares her strength & resilience through her original songs in a genre fusion of blues, folk, country & rock.

​Kokatha Warrior / Powerful / Singer / Songwriter / Musician / Energy Uplifter / ​Survivor.

Sonia will be playing around the ampitheatre ahead of the Cooroboree on Saturday Afternoon.