Ringbalin

Ringbalin is a multi-arts project which takes place along the Murray-Darling River, from Queensland to South Australia, connecting Indigenous communities through the maintenence 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.

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.

“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 has 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’.

This year, water planners from the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources will attend some of the ceremonies and hold talks with Traditional Owners about Indigenous priorities for river management.