• People gathered around fire circle

    Good Spirit Festival

    An Initiatory Journey To The Sacred

  • Men performing traditional dance ceremony

    Good Spirit Festival 2022

    An Initiatory Journey To The Sacred

  • Two children with arms around each other

    Good Spirit Festival 2022

    An Initiatory Journey To The Sacred

Nayri Niara Good Spirit Festival

Good Music, Good Sharing, Good Food, Good Spirit.

The Nayri Niara Good Spirit Festival is a three-day gathering of Indigenous knowledge sharing, culture, music, ceremony & arts. The Festival is a powerful opportunity for Indigenous & non-indigenous people to share knowledge & ceremony, honouring ancient traditions, with modern innovation.

The Nayri Niara Good Spirit Festival hosts an amazing array of musicians, dancers, healers & teachers to explore & connect Indigenous, earth-based living, wellbeing & healing wisdom. 

Traditionally, held in the stunning cultural landscape that is lunawuni/Bruny Island, lutruwita/Tasmania, we are now looking for a new home. Please let us know if you have land / Country that maybe suitable by contacting ruth.l@nayriniaragoodspirit.com.

The 2022 Program

Here’s our 2022 Nayri Niara Good Spirit Festival Program:

The offical program begins 4pm Friday 22 April and finishes 3pm Sunday 24 April. No need to rush home. We believe in a slow wind down and time to integrate experiences. All welcome to stay Sunday evening relax and soak up the good spirit.

Please click here to see full program with scheduled times.

Click tile to open a larger image of the program.

Good Spirit Festival Offerings

  • Men performing traditional Aboriginal opening ceremony

    OPENING CEREMONY

    As cultural practitioners, the intention for the opening ceremony is one of allowing the country to hold us, and heal inclusively. The extended narrative will be one of initiation for up and coming practitioners. To create an understanding that our ancestral lines kanaplila/dance and sing through us. Also to experience ancestral knowledge from a diverse range of cultures and disciplines. Opening ceremony has the intent to ignite the flow of spiritual exploration and discover an ancestral strength. Dadirri-to breathe into ourselves and access the flow of intrinsic strength from each and everyone's bloodlines.

  • People gathered in circle in field with sunset behind

    MANGANNA STAGE

    We call the Yellow Crest Black Cockatoo’s, Mangannas. Our Festival sits at the feet of the majestic Mountain named Mount Manganna. We remember the Snr Elder, healer and leader of the Nueonne, Manganna. At the Manganna stage we soar with the vibrance of music and raw energy, we explore with depth, power and immensity of knowledge from First Nations and world wisdom traditions through workshops and speakers panels. The Manganna will guides us to open and deepen our journey to act in right relationship and connection to life. At Manganna stage you’ll find your KINdred spirits.

  • Two women facing each other with hands outstretched

    WELL-BEING VILLAGE

    Variety is the spice of life.

    To provide festival goers, artists and crew the opportunity to experience a variety of well-being experiences. Paid and free. One on one with healing practitioners. Individual and group self-directed activities. Workshops.

  • Man standing in front of tin shed type structure

    TIN CAMP STUDIO

    Tin Camp Studios provide a safe and welcoming space to share stories. This could be through song, dance, spoken word or whatever form feels right.

    The studios are constructed from salvaged materials and modelled on typical 1950s Aboriginal housing that could be found on the fringe of countless Australian townships.

  • Two childrens with their back towards camera and arms around one another

    CHILDREN'S VILLAGE

    This space, along with trusted hosts, will lead young participants through activities that allow children to learn, express themselves and create through play, collaboration and conversation. The space celebrates our individual abilities and expression and shares them within a supportive environment.

  • Softly lit dome-like tent against night sky

    STORYDOME

    The intention of “Story Dome 22” is an invitation into a deep listening journey. A space to express the unspoken and to share in story and words.

    Where respect is given to the healing potential of having our stories spoken, and heard.

    Ceremonially created, the Story Dome opens up a sacred space to listen and write, offering a rich program of poetry, spoken word, auditory art, live performance & film.

  • Two men standing in front of wooden structure

    MEN'S CIRCLE

    KINship and Connection : How to realise our potential in the modern society.

    As Nita’s/Brothers our first intention in this space is to to listen to each other, to accept the many life journeys that place us in this space in this moment.

    To understand a deeper connection to self and to country. To draw on ancient knowledge and also each other's strength to build better character.

  • Woman facing away with arms outstretched

    NARA MAPALI - INCLUSIVE CIRCLE

    The nara mapali - they/them circle is a space for non-binary and genderqueer people to share stories, create movement, sing, be still and connect both with Country and each other. It will be a place for those people who fit outside the binary to share knowledge in a safe and supported environment. We will explore healing through multiple modes and draw strength from Country and our ancestors.

  • Women gathered in circle in forest performing traditional ceremony

    WOMEN'S CIRCLE

    Explore the rising feminine surrounded by a beautifully diverse community of women. This is a safe space hosted by members of the Aboriginal Community.

  • People gathered around table with skins

    WILD GROVE

    Workshop: Fermentation Workshop - Kelp & Sauerkraut
    Date: Saturday 23 April 10-11 am
    Price: FREE


    Workshop: Tanning Workshop
    Date: Saturday 23 April 12 - 1pm

    Ned Long from Wild Grove will walk workshop participants through the making of Kelp Kraut. Wild Grove began experimenting with various Tasmanian seaweeds a few years back as an alternative to salt in the fermentation process, adding both nutrient value and Umami flavour. This demonstration will teach you how to both harvest and use seaweed in your own practice.

    A tanning workshop and skill share, discussing and demonstrating the process of preserving wallaby and rabbit hides using black wattle bark. Participants will learn how to identify and sustainably collect black wattle bark and be involved in the hands on preparation of the bark tea and fleshing of the wallaby and rabbit skins. Kachina has been practicing natural bark tanning for 5 years, inspired by the idea of respecting the whole animal and preserving skins that would otherwise go to waste.

  • OCHRE EXPERIENCE

    Workshop: Culturally breaking down & preparing a wallaby to cook
    Date: Friday 22 April 5-6pm

    Together we will be doing a Wallaby Breakdown using every part of the animal both for food and cultural purposes.

  • Image of artwork against black wall with sticks & didgeridoos in front

    CULTIVATE ARTISTS EXHIBITION

    CULTIVATE is a series of monthly art exhibitions that invites Indigenous and non-Indigenous creatives to share, connect and create.

    There will be artwork from artists in series 1, 2, 3 & 4 featured at the Nayri Niara Good Spirit Festival.

Important elements of the Festival:

  • Honour past & present Aboriginal custodians & create opportunities for them to safely share & create

  • Establish & continue to build upon relationships in diverse communities

  • Promote emotional, spiritual & physical healing through exposure to local, national & international health & WellBeing initiatives

  • Encourage local & ethical economic growth through promoting local business & artists

  • Increase a greater participation in community arts whilst providing skill development opportunities for existing & emerging practitioners

  • Fulfil our cultural obligations to care for Country through enhancing peoples awareness of practices which honour all life

  • Promoting & celebrating lutruwita/Tasmania as an icon of innovation & creativity

 FAQs

 
  • Please bring your printed or digital ticket and photo ID with you and present at the gates. On arrival at the festival you will be issued with a wristband that must be kept on for the duration of the festival and presented to crew on the gates when exiting and re-entering the festival site.

    Gates will be open between 3pm - 9pm Friday 22 April 2022 so that people can settle into Country and set up camp.

    Our Program will commence 5pm Friday evening and Opening Ceremony will start around 8pm. Gates will reopen Saturday from 8am - 7pm. The official Festival program is planned to finish with a closing ceremony at 3pm Sunday 24th April. Campers are welcome to stay, unwind and take that extra time to soak up the good spirit of Country and Community or to pack up and return home. All campers are asked to please leave the site by 11am Monday 25th

    Please see lunawuni site location map & festival site map below FAQ’s.

  • Nayri Niara is pleased to partner with Sealink Bruny to make your travel to our Festival as quick and easy as possible. As it will be a School Holidays please expect delays. We ask for your consideration to all Ferry staff who are working hard to help get you there and back in a timely manner. Ferries run several times everyday, please view the timetable here.

    Metro Tas runs a public bus service between Hobart and the Ferry Terminal at Kettering. For more info check timetables here.

  • Festival Shuttle:
    We are running a shuttle service from Roberts Pt Ferry Terminal to the lunawuni/Bruny Island Festival Site on Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday.

    Please click here for the timetable & ticketing.

    Other notes:
    Do NOT drive between dusk and dawn. Please stay safe, protect our wildlife and drive and arrive only during daylight hours.

    Given our remote location, the environmental impact of transport carbon emissions and the high cost of fuel right now, we strongly encourage carpooling to the event. Please try and fit at least three people in your vehicle if you can. We've created a Nayri Niara Lifts Facebook group to help organise carpooling. We have set up the Nayri Niara Lifts Facebook group.

    Metro Tas runs a public bus, which is FREE at the moment, service between Hobart and the Ferry Terminal at Kettering. For more info and timetables, visit the Metro Tas website.

  • There will be several onsite food options available for purchase. You are also welcome to BYO cooking gear (NO open flames though) and prepare your own food.

    NO GLASS is permitted onsite. We will supply drinking water, but you will need to bring your own clearly marked containers and bottles to refill.

    This is a ZERO WASTE event, so you MUST take all rubbish and recycling away with you. Please bring your own crockery and cutlery to reduce packaging onsite.

    Please note: This is a ZERO drug and alcohol event. There will be no sale or distribution of alcohol from any vendors and we discourage people from bringing drugs or alcohol.

  • Due to lack of reception, the festival is cash-only.

    There is only one ATM on Bruny Island at the Adventure Bay Store, 40 min drive from Festival, so please make sure that you bring enough cash with you for any food, drinks, healing treatments, art, craft, CDs or other merchandise that you might be tempted by.

  • THIS IS A DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE EVENT. We are keen to create a supportive and nourishing environment for all festival goers to enjoy. We ask that people please refrain from bringing alcohol and drugs onsite throughout the Festival. Anyone exhibiting negative behaviour, which affects others, WILL be asked to leave the festival.

  • Camping is included in all full weekend tickets. If you plan to camp, please ensure that you bring everything you need with you, including: tents, bedding, torches, cooking gear, water bottles, and warm clothing. Campervans are welcome.

    This is a designated Fuel Stove Only Area and campfires are not permitted. To find out what fuel stoves are permitted see the Tasmania Parks & Wildlife webpage for recommendations on Fuel Stove Only Area.

  • Please be aware that we are on a bush block and there may be snakes, jack jumpers, bees and wasps in the area. Please stay within the festival grounds and be aware of wildlife around you. If you, or someone with you, has an allergy to bites and stings, please ensure you are prepared with your own epipen or other suitable remedy.

  • Respecting our Neighbours:
    We are very grateful to be able to invite you to this beautiful land in Cloudy Bay. Please respect the festival site and our neighbours, by ensuring that noise is kept to a minimum, all drive ways and areas in front of houses are kept clear, people are treated with respect and that you take all rubbish and other materials away with you.

    Respecting Each Other:
    We are here to have a fun, healing and safe experience. We will have zero tolerance towards any harassment of any kind - that includes homophobia, transphobia, sexism or racism. If you see anything that doesn’t look or feel right, please let a staff member know.

    Gender Safety:
    Please learn and respect people’s pronouns. If you don’t know someone’s pronouns, a good way to start is by introducing yourself: “My name is Sophie and I use she/her pronouns. How about you?”

    FYI - an extra safe space for non-binary and gender diverse people is the nara mapali/People’s Circle.

    Cultural Curiosity & Respect:
    We acknowledge the ancient and continued custodianship and cultural responsibility of First Nations cultural knowledge keepers across Nala Nemminah (Mother Earth). We pay our deep respect to the Tasmanian Aboriginal community and our Elders who continue to guide and protect us. We Acknowledge the Creation Being of Country and Culture that continue to form and inform us. We assert Sovereignty Was Never Ceded #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe

    Our festival will be held on the traditional homelands of the Nuenonne people. Lunawuni / Bruny Island is strong in cultural knowledge and story. We ask that you bring an open heart and mind with you to explore the diverse cultural offerings of First Nations people at the Festival. UNSURE…. ASK, The festival is an open invitation to learn. We trust that people are not trying to offend. If you are asking a cultural question or approaching a culturally sensitive topic with someone, please check in with them if they are comfortable to discuss with you. You may like to say “Is it ok if I ask a cultural question?” Please don’t take it personally if someone isn't up for sharing in the moment.

    Cultural Protocols:
    To ensure cultural safety, we respectfully ask only men play the yidaki / didgeridoo.

  • We are committed to minimizing our impact on Country, maximizing our benefits to the community and restoring and regenerating Country. We would love your help to uphold our policies and join us on our sustainability journey.

    Here's how:

    • Only pack what you need and take it back home with you - leave no trace.

    • Do not bring anything to the site that will end up in landfill. If you do, please take it home with you.

    • Byo crockery, cutlery, reusable drink bottle and coffee cup (there will be free drinking water and designated washing stations) - but NO glass please.

    • Avoid purchasing and bringing plastics - especially single-use!

    • Power down all your electrical equipment at home before you come. Turn off at power points.

    • Carpool with others to reduce transport emissions. We’re aiming for at least 3 people per car (our Facebook group can help you find a travel buddy if you need one)

    • No fires please (there will be communal fires for your enjoyment)

    • Note that the main ceremonial fire is sacred so please do not add rubbish to it.

    • Respect the land! No dumping rubbish or waste water in the creek, bush or ocean.

    • Respect the property boundaries, no fence jumping.

    • Be careful and conservative with water use onsite. Turn off taps properly.

    • Take your time to read the bin signs and put the correct waste in the correct bin.

    • Contamination in the bins will ruin all our good planning.

    • No burning rubbish in fires, especially plastic.

    • Put out cigarette butts properly and put in bins provided in the smoking area.

    • Keep an eye out for rubbish blowing into the bush or creek. Pick it up if you can and alert the site team if this happens.

  • The festival site has limited access to phone signal. We recommend downloading your ticket before you arrive.

    There is nowhere onsite to charge your phone so feel free to switch it off after that and enjoy a phone free festival!

  • Nayri Niara Good Spirit Festival is committed to creating a safe and inviting experience for all. We are working closely with the Department of Public Health and will follow their advice and current COVID-19 requirements.

    Please do not attend the festival if you are experiencing any cold or flu like symptoms or if you are feeling generally unwell. Covid-19 RAT tests will be available on site to purchase at the First Aid tent if you require.

    We recommend you use the Tas check in App when entering the festival on arrival. There will be appropriate hygiene facilities on site for you to use such as hand sanitiser and wash. Please also maintain 1.5 meters social distance where possible.

    Organisers provide the following information to prospective attendees:

    • COVID-19 is currently very common in Tasmania.

    • Do not attend the event if you are ill or a close contact.

    • Consider doing a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) before attending, for your health and the community’s health.

    • Consider wearing a mask at the event.

    • RATs are available at the event. Please get tested if you have symptoms while at the event.

    Covid-19 safe events no longer require:

    • Proof of vaccination. Although we strongly recommend you consider the safety of yourself and others.

    • Masks.

    • Restrictions on dancing. We are free to express ourselves !!

  • No refunds.

    If Nayri Niara have to cancel the Nayri Niara good spirit Festival due to covid or any Covid related Government directions, Nayri Niara will keep 40% of the total ticket price.

    You are free to resale your ticket as you choose. Please let us know about the names of the new ticket holders by emailing us: contact@nayriniaragoodspirit.com

    For information about this event, please contact the Nayri Niara at contact@nayriniaragoodspirit.com.

The Festival Site.

The address formally is: 
803 Cloudy Bay Road, South Bruny Island TAS 7150.

However, this address does not present correctly on Google Maps. 835 Cloudy Bay Rd on Google maps is the correct physical address.

Festival Site Map
Site Map

Hours
Gates open: 22 April at 3pm
Festival ends: 25 April at 12pm

Contact
contact@nayriniaragoodspirit.com

 
 
 

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements Tin Camp
Tin Camp is a First Nations-led project developed by Warren Mason and supported by Kath Melbourne. It is presented by Contemporary Art Tasmania and Nayri Niara Festival. Tin Camp has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative, Live Music Australia, the Regional Arts Fund and through Arts Tasmania by the Minister for the Arts. 

Image Contributors
Paul Hoelen • Nikki Michail • Julie Lowe • Rob Blakers • Wayne Quillium • Rebecca Thomson • Joe Shrimpton • Joe Chelkowski • Emily Ashley-Turner • Amy Brown • Jessica Coughlan

Our sponsors

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