22 February, 2016

Yabun: “The single greatest event” on Survival Day

Described by man-of-the-moment Stan Grant as the greatest Survival Day event, Yabun again attracted a huge crowd of more than 15,000 to Sydney’s Victoria Park this year.

Yabun, which means “music to a beat” in the traditional Gadigal language, featured an impressive line-up of entertainment headlined by Bart Willoughby who wowed the crowd with his anthemic song “We Have Survived”.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council was proud to be a sponsor of the event which celebrates survival, diversity and pride.

One of the highlights of the program was the Corroboree Ground where dance groups captivated a diverse crowd.

In the Speak Out tent, NSWALC Chair Roy Ah-See spoke at a panel session on keeping culture alive in Sydney while the Kevin Cook Lecture was presented by speakers from the First Peoples Disability Network.

OurMob caught up with broadcaster and author, Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi man Stan Grant, who praised Yabun as the “single greatest event” on Survival Day.

“It is the most inclusive, it is the least bombastic. It is the one with the most pride and the greatest sense of what it means to be an Australian, what it means to be from this country and what it means to be who you are.

“It’s the best thing we do.”

Stan also reflected on the positive role played by the Land Rights network and NSWALC in New South Wales.

“Growing up it was the Land Council that gave us a sense of place and a sense of purpose. It was a place where we had a political voice, where we could fly our flag, where we could fight the fight for recognition about who we are and our connection to our land.”