Indigenous businesses from across Australia present an Expo in Sydney

Around 30 indigenous tourism businesses presented the first public indigenous tourism and cultural expo last weekend from 10.30am to 5pm at The Studio, Sydney Opera House. The expo, coordinated by Aboriginal Tourism Australia, and free to the public, aimed to share indigenous Australia’s 60,000 history, culture and lifestyle. Activities included:
(i) Traditional dance performances by Descendance – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Dance Theatre;
(ii) Music – didgeridoo craftsman Ross Smith of Wiradjuri Dreaming speaking of his craft;
(iii) Emu egg carving;
(iv) Harbour cruises seen from an Aboriginal perspective;
(v) Meeting Cathy Freeman;
(vi) Indigenous celebrities, artists and dancers sharing stories of country and culture;
(vii) Ceremonial body art demonstrations; tribal face designs applied by people; authorised to paint designs from their ‘country’ – possibly the first time the public has been able to learn the stories behind the people and the designs;
(viii) Art workshops where visitors could learn about regional styles, ownership of stories and designs and the protocols associated with art.