Nilmini De Silva, Bathed in Smoke (SINGLE SHOT 2023)

It was wonderful to be part of the joyful celebration of the Warami Festival during NAIDOC week this year. It was a sun drenched Winter’s day in Parramatta which both added to the atmosphere and made shooting conditions tricky. Calling Parramatta home for over 60,000 years, Warami celebrates the Burramattagal people’s connection to the land and community. It was lovely to see so many different cultures coming together to immerse themselves in the traditions of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. My attention was constantly drawn to the strength and pride in the face of the younger dancers and their hope for a better future for them and their communities.

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