'NATION DANCE AT CAVVANBAH’ MELANI DU JARDIN OIL ON CARDBOARD FRAMED 90 x 90 CM

NATION DANCE AT CAVVANBAH

Due to the extreme weather conditions at the time, the fires raged on through Christmas. By then, many of the tribal groups of the East Coast had combined to take historic action in response to the devastation of the fires.

In December 2019, hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia participated in a historic, nationwide corroboree to help heal Country and community following the devastating 2019 east coast bushfires. Coinciding at midday, First Nations people danced simultaneously to release trauma, honour ancestors, and invoke rain, bring relief to fire-ravaged lands. 

Locally in Byron Bay, at Cavvanbah, the main beach and elsewhere in the wider Northern Rivers, this movement brought together local Custodians and community members for spiritual dance rituals and ceremonies.