The Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies will run a climate change forum from 2.15pm to 3.45pm, and organiser elder Patsy Cameron said global warming was a major concern for Tasmanian First Nations people. 

“There’ll be a couple of scientists coming and a well-known elder from the south, talking about cultural activities on sea country and what it means if climate change makes such an impact that it may prevent the ability to harvest our sea food and collect our shells for stringing,” she said. 

“We just don’t know what’s going to happen in the future and it’s important that we understand some of those changes. The implications are very concerning.”

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Governor of Tasmania Kate Warner will open Mannalargenna Day, and another guest of honour will be Bruce Pascoe, who will discuss his book Dark Emu. 

There will also be men’s and women’s circles, children’s activities and discovery rangers, raffles and cultural items for purchase throughout the day, and scheduled garden walks, bus tours of Musselroe Wind Farm, a dancing ceremony from the Pakana Cultural Education Services Traditional Dance Group, a performance from singer Dewayne Everett-Smith, and a traditional dance workshop.  

In the evening (5.30pm to 10pm) there will be a supper of kangaroo tail soup and damper, a bonfire (weather permitting), storytelling and star gazing, and twilight tours to see the forester kangaroos and wombats. 

Mannalargenna Day is on Saturday, December 1 with activities from 9.30am until 10pm, at Cape Portland. 

For Ms Cameron, one of the festival’s biggest strengths is the location. 

“I encourage people to come on a wonderful drive in the far north-east,” she said. “It’ll be an amazing experience for everybody. Come on the journey - we’re in a remote region, but it is our ancestral land, so come along and celebrate on our ancestral day.”

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