Wotjobaluk Nations Festival 2025
- elizabethtucker15
- Oct 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 27
Wotjobaluk Nations Festival — Celebrating 20 Years of Native Title Recognition
13 December 2025 · Horseshoe Bend Campgrounds
This 13th of December marks 20 years since Native Title was recognised for the Wotjobaluk Nations. Join us on the 13th of December at the Wotjobaluk Nations Festival, a day and night of celebration, reflection, and Community connection on Country at Horseshoe Bend Campgrounds.
The Festival will bring together music, dance, storytelling, food, art, and ceremony, culminating in Our Place Our Story, an extraordinary immersive storytelling projection experience created by and for the Wotjobaluk Nations community.
Schedule
9:30am-12:00pm — Ceremony (Mob & Kin + Invited Guests)
12:00pm — Photography: Milestone Gathering (Mob & Kin + Invited Guests)
12:30pm-2:00pm — Cultural Workshops & Food (Mob & Kin + Invited Guests)
2:00pm–5:00pm — Rest, Refresh & Connect (Mob & Kin + Invited Guests)
5:00pm — Ceremony (Mob, Kin & General Public)
6:30pm–9:30pm — Dinner, Night Market & Music (Mob, Kin & General Public)
9:30pm–11:00pm — Our Place Our Story (Mob, Kin & General Public)
Our Place Our Story
An immersive storytelling experience, projection, art, film, stories, Language, and dance
During the evening of the Wotjobaluk Nations Festival, the walls, trees, and open spaces of Dimboola will come alive through a breathtaking projection work. Our Place Our Story brings together Wotjobaluk Nations artists, storytellers, Elders, and youth to share the living Dreaming of this Country through light, sound, and movement.
Created collaboratively with: Pink Lake Creative, Dalki Murrup Ceremonial Performance Group, The Dreaming Project, and The Little Projector Company
Ways to Get Involved
We’re inviting Wotjobaluk Nations Community and Kin to contribute to Our Place Our Story and the wider 20-year celebrations through a series of creative and cultural opportunities:
Art & Projection-Making Workshops — Oct 27 (two sessions)
Create artworks and performances inspired by local Creation stories that have been passed down from the Dreamtime for generations. With a focus of creating works around Bunjil the Spirit Creator, Barra the Red Kangaroo, and Tchingal the Giant Emu.
Your creations will become part of the projections shown at the Festival.
Centre for Participation, Horsham 39 Urquhart Street, Horsham Victoria 3400
Workshop 1: 10am–2pm · Workshop 2: 4–8pm
Register here: bglc.com.au/events
Ebenezer Mission Filming Night — Oct 25, 8–10pm
Witness the magic of a night-time projection and performance at Ebenezer Mission, Antwerp.
This special on-Country filming will form part of the Festival’s immersive storytelling experience.
Bring warm clothes, a picnic supper, nonalcoholic drinks, folding chairs, picnic blankets and torch
🖼️ Callout: Artwork for Projection Project — closes Nov 30
Wotjobaluk Nations artists of all ages are invited to submit a high-resolution photograph of your artwork to be projected during Our Place Our Story.
Selected artists receive a $150 licensing fee, and your work will be credited as part of the collection.
📸 Callout: Historical Photographs — closes Nov 30
We’re gathering significant photos capturing the journey to Native Title recognition and community milestones of the past 20 years.
These images may appear in the commemorative film, projections, and BGLC archives.
🔥 Cultural Program Expressions of Interest
Artists, cultural practitioners, and leaders are invited to propose workshops, talks, or performances for the Festival’s Cultural Program.
Wotjobaluk Nations Festival Artwork
Featured Artist: Tracy Wise
Barkindji Ngiyampaa Maligundidj (Wotjobaluk)
Instagram: @mun_arli | @tracywise.com.au
About the Artist
Tracy Wise is an award-winning artist and traditional weaver, proudly representing the Barkindji Ngiyampaa Maligundidjt (Wotjobaluk) heritage.
Based in Irymple on Latji Latji Country, Tracy specialises in acrylic paintings, digital art, and the creation of jewellery and traditional bags using natural fibers in a contemporary style.
Tracy embarked on her artistic journey in 2015, alongside her mother Mary Wise, using art as a means of healing, cultural exploration, and sharing their knowledge and experiences with others.
Tracy's artwork beautifully captures the essence of her cultural identity and serves as a medium to express and preserve her Aboriginal traditions and Ancestors' stories. Tracy's creations invite viewers to engage with and appreciate her Aboriginal culture while honoring its rich legacy.
“I wanted to capture the landscape of the Wotjobaluk Nations and create an artwork that reflects our strong connection to the land and through our Ancestors dreaming stories. Especially Goruk the Magpie. During the making of this artwork the magpies have been constantly talking loudly sometimes 3 am in the morning near my bedroom window. To me that's Ancestors telling me to keep going that it's important to tell their story through my artwork. I'm so proud to be able to revive this ancient creation story through this artwork. Goruk is a Pilar of his community because he saw a problem and found a solution and took the initiative to bridge the gap between night and day by holding up the sun. To me he not only held the light upon himself but for others all around him. I see this in our Mob today and especially for Native Title how those before us led the way holding up the sun for us to shine brightly, to care for Country and to live our Culture our way."
— Tracy Wise
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