Celebrating culture and connecting people

From the 14-24 November, Sydney will be hosting the inaugural Corroboree Sydney festival of Indigenous arts and culture. Directed by Hetti Perkins, the festival features leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, writers, dancers and musicians. A showcase of creative events and stories is being presented at significant sites around the city including Bangarra at Pier 4 in Walsh Bay, the Australian Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Blackfella Films, Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Koori Radio 93.7 FM, State Library of New South Wales and the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The word Corroboree, synonymous with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, is actually derived from a local Sydney language word 'Carriberie', used to describe a ceremony of singing, telling stories and dancing. The first Corroboree documented by early explorers was staged in the area that is known today as Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens. You can find out about the events planned over 11 days here. For more information about the festival, head to the Corroboree Sydney webpage: http://www.corroboreesydney.com.au/ The Dictionary has a host of materials relating to Aboriginal Sydney, including essays and images that you can browse here.