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Each year the first words of Melbourne International Arts Festival come from those who have carried this land’s stories the longest—the First Peoples of Melbourne.
Tanderrum is a ceremony bringing together the Wurundjeri/Woiwurrung, Boon Wurrung, Taungurung, Wadawurrung and Dja Dja Wurrung language groups of the Eastern Kulin Nation—a ceremony of celebration that reaches across Aboriginal time.
This sacred ceremony had been hidden since European invasion, until six years ago the Eastern Kulin brought Tanderrum back to central Melbourne to open the Festival. Since then this cross-cultural moment has become an essential and living element of the Festival and a Welcome to Country for local and international artists
and audiences.
Melbourne is sacred to the Traditional Custodians. Through this event we ensure that Aboriginal culture remains present and relevant to our city today. Tanderrum is your invitation to share this sacred place.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CEREMONY →
Please note permission is required to record and capture images of the ceremony and those participating. We ask you respect the request of the clans of the Eastern Kulin Nation and their families.
- STEERING GROUP
- Wurundjeri
- Aunty Di Kerr
- Wurundjeri
- Aunty Irene Morris
- Wurundjeri
- Mandy Nicholson
- Boon Wurrung
- Aunty Carolyn Briggs
- Wadawurrung
- Tammy Gilson
- Wadawurrung
- Barry Gilson
- Wadawurrung
- Corrina Eccles
- Taungurung
- Aunty Bernadette Franklin
- Taungurung
- Angela ten Burren
- Taungurung
- Uncle Mick Harding
- Taungurung
- Mark ten Buuren
- Dja Dja Wurrung
- Aunty Fay Carter
- Dja Dja Wurrung
- Wendy Berick
- Dja Dja Wurrung
- Kayla Baksh
- ---
- NARRATOR
- Uncle Jack Charles
- ---
- ILBIJERRI TEAM
- Artistic Director
- Rachael Maza
- Producers
- J-Maine Beezley
- Production Manager
- Jake Jobling
- Assistant Production Manager
- Caleb Thaiday
- Stage Manager
- Brock Brocklesby
Partners
Presenting Partner
With support from
Supported through
PHOTO | James Henry