The organisers of Dirrum festival ’24 chose the theme in response to a key component of the Uluru Statement from the Heart: “Makarrata is the culmination of our agenda: the coming together after a struggle. It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self-determination. We seek a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history.”

 

We are grateful to Councillors from the East Arnhem Regional Council who have given us permission to use Yolngu Matha word makarrata as our theme. In choosing this theme we acknowledge the unfinished work of implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call for Truth, Treaty and Voice. We are also drawn to the word makarrata due to its promise of hope and a way forward amid struggle in a range of personal and political contexts.