Ceremony Song & Dance
We use ceremonies to signal different milestones, celebrations or commiserations. Each occasion has its own songs and dances that are performed as part of the ceremony and are specific to certain types of ceremony.
Ceremonial occasions, practices, songs, dances and language.
We can hold our heads up and be proud.
Vivienne Mason from Narooma
Learn about our ceremonies, songs and dances
Album: Djinama Yilaga Choir
Article
The Djinama Yilaga Choir has released their first album which can be downloaded via the link below. Djinama Yilaga is a living celebration of Yuin language, culture, and Country. Through Dhurga songs, they honour their ancestors and carry their stories forward. The intergenerational ensemble embodies resilience, joy, and connection, with their debut album inviting listeners into Yuin soundscapes and inspiring new Dhurga singers...
ARTICLES 
Bermagui Historical Society collection
Bermagui Historical Society and Museum have a digital collection of over 11,000 professional scanned photographs and records, where searches can be made...
COLLECTIONS 
Burial Sites
Gary Campbell talks about burial sites on Country and how they've been disrespected or built over....
FILMS 
Ceremonies
Patricia Ellis OAM talks about ceremonies, gendered ceremonies, their importance, and the multiple occasions for ceremony....
FILMS 
Ceremony and Language
Vivienne Mason talks about ceremony and language. She shares her stories of dance and longing for her Language....
FILMS 
Corkhill Collection
The William Henry Corkhill Tilba Tilba photograph collection is a collection of 875 photographs taken by William Corkshill in between 1890 and...
COLLECTIONS
Dance Rites Indigenous dance competition
Article
Dance Rites Indigenous dance competition helps women share culture among generations.
Yuin elder Vivienne Mason from the Walbunga and Djiringanj clans on the New South Wales far south coast, is the eldest of four generations of women who formed the Djaadjawan Dancers four years ago.
Djaadjawan means sand in the Dhurga language.
This weekend, the Djaadjawan Dancers will perform at Dance Rites, an event bringing together more than 200 Indigenous dancers from across Australia to compete on the Sydney Opera House forecourt....
ARTICLES 
Dances
Warren Foster talks about traditonal dances. He discusses the different reasons for danc, its traditions and healing power....
FILMS 
James Kunkas Little
Biography
James Kunkus Little (1911–1972) was a Yuin entertainer, musician, and community figure. Born on 4 August 1911 at Wallaga Lake Aboriginal Station...
CUSTODIANS 
Music and Dance Photo Gallery
Photos of musicians and dancers shared by the Yuin community....
GALLERY 
Robert McLeod
Biography
Robert (Bobby) McLeod (1947- 2009) was a respected Yuin musician, poet, healer, cultural leader and father of ten, whose life story became...
CUSTODIANS 
Shirley Foster
Biography
Shirley Foster was a respected Yuin Elder whose life journey embodied resilience, cultural revival, and community leadership. Born to Agnes Harrison and...
CUSTODIANS 
Vic Simms
Biography
Vic Simms (1946–2025) was a trailblazing Australian singer, songwriter, and respected Elder whose life story embodied resilience, creativity and cultural leadership. Born...
CUSTODIANS Ceremony and Language
Vivienne Mason talks about ceremony and language. She shares her stories of dance and longing for her Language.
