AustLit

In 1999, a corroboree called Ngarrindjeri Ngrilkulun was held at Raukkan over a weekend in which Indigenous performers from around the nation and the world joined Ngarrindjeri performers in a celebration of culture, survival and life. The last corroboree held by the people from the Darling, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, and Murray rivers was at Raukkan in 1899. Promoting intergenerational activities, Ngarrinjeri Ngrilkulun '99 was appropriately held on the 100th anniversary of the last corroboree as part of the International Year of Older Persons. The Office of the Ageing sought to organize a forum during the International Year of Older Persons, whereby representatives from all these areas as well as inter-linked groups from all around Australia could attend the Corroboree and contribute to a theme encouraging intergenerational interaction. This resulted in 150 Elders being gathered together from around Australia and given the opportunity to travel the river from Tailem Bend to Narrung by river steamer, in much the same way as the Ngarrindjeri and other clans travelled in traditional times.

The theme of this event - 'Towards a Society for all Ages', had the purpose of restoring to the Ngarrindjeri people an integral component of their traditions culminating in an appreciation of the local Elders, youth and the descendants of the four River clan groups. The ceremony was intended to ensure that the Ngarrindjeri people were widely recognized and acknowledged throughout other Aboriginal and mainstream communities. Ngarrinjeri Ngrilkulun '99 opened the way for the important role of the Elders in the Aboriginal community to be restored to a level where pride, dignity and respect reflected traditional ways.