Gai-mariagal Festival

gai mariagal festival

A Celebration of the Oldest Living Culture on the Planet.

The Gai-mariagal Festival was founded in 2001 and aims to raise awareness of First Nations People living in the Northern Sydney region.

The Festival starts on Sorry Day, 26 May and goes through to the end of NAIDOC Week the second week in July each year. The Festival committee includes local government, other agencies, businesses and numerous community groups with events to include workshops, art exhibitions, performances, films, talks and more.

This year's festival theme is 'Keep the Flame Alive'. With 2024 themes for Reconciliation Week 'Now More Thank Ever' and NAIDOC Week, 'Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud' the Gai-mariagal Festival committee has decided this year to continue to fan the flames of what is important to us all.

As communities, organisations and faith groups we continue to do the work that is necessary to keep growing relationships, bring people together and to continue to shine a light on truth.

Ku-ring-gai Council is a proud partner of the Festival in its 24th year.

Gai-mariagal Festival website

Gai-mariagal Festival events in Ku-ring-gai

Ku-ring-gai Council is committed to strengthening these relationships in several ways. Council recently endorsed the preparation of a draft Ku-ring-gai Reconciliation Plan in collaboration with Reconciliation Australia. Once drafted the plan will seek to encourage organisations to improve opportunities for the recruitment of indigenous staff and procurement of indigenous services. We are also committed educating our staff and community to improve cultural awareness. This means engaging the community in different ways to explore indigenous culture, which is why the Gai-mariagal Festival is so important.