There’s plenty to see and do at GIO Stadium this weekend! As we recognise Indigenous Round this week we have several Indigenous related activities taking place on throughout the evening ahead of the kick-off against the Bulls.
Dale & The River Bank Band
Playing in the West precinct before the match, Dale and the River Bank Band established their music career in Canberra 1994 a blend of songs about Aboriginal culture mixed with some country rock and sweet harmonies.
Dale and the River Bank Band have supported the likes of Jessica Maubouy, Blue King Brown, Casey Donnovan, Yothu Yindi, Russell Morris, Shane Howard & the Goanna Band, Jimmy Little, Archie Roach and Troy Cassar Daley and have performed gigs and festivals across the country.
Smoke Ceremony & Welcome to Country
A smoke ceremony is an ancient aboriginal custom in Australia that involves burning various native plants to produce smoke, which has cleansing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits from the people and the land and make pathway for a brighter future.
Welcome to Country is a ceremony performed by Indigenous Australian Elders to welcome visitors to their traditional land. Both will be performed pre-match.
Yukkumbruk Dreaming Dance Group
Dancers from the Yukkumbruk Dreaming Dance Group will accompany the pre-match Smoke Ceremony on the pitch.Indigenous Marathon FoundationAs part of today’s Gameday Charity, the Indigenous Marathon Foundation will welcome 12 athletes onto the field for introductions.
The Foundation is a health promotion charity that uses running to celebrate Indigenous resilience and achievement and create inspirational Indigenous leaders.
Half-time: Buroinjin
Stick around at half-time and catch the demonstration of Buroinjin, a ball game played by the Kabi Kabi people of southern Queensland. The game was played with a ball made of kangaroo skin which was called a buroinjin.
Spectators used to mark their applause by calling out ‘Ei, ei’. This is a running and ball passing game. The aim is for a player of one team to run with the buroinjin (ball) and fully cross over the score line at the other end of the field to score a touchdown.
The game is started and restarted after a touchdown with a pass by a team from behind their own score line - halfway for younger players. Play to four touches before possession changes.
You can catch all these activities as the Plus500 Brumbies continue their Super Rugby quest in 2019 on Friday 24 May when the Bulls from South Africa arrive at GIOStadium for their Round 15 match.
