Awaken Murrup at Kindred People - A new Indigenous-led festival presented by Monash University (1 - 5 September 2026)
Where ancient wisdom meets future worlds, Kindred People is a powerful new Indigenous-led festival and kummargi yulendj gadhaba (knowledge rising up together), weaving together global First Nations arts, culture, and wisdom. From 1 to 5 September 2026, Monash University's campuses on Kulin Country will be transformed into spaces of ceremony, creativity, and connection.
Curated by Gunditjmara man Tom Molyneux, and supported by an Indigenous Steering Committee, the gathering will invite artists, Elders, Knowledge Holders, and communities to share traditions, champion creative expression, and imagine new futures.
Kindred People is more than a festival; it is a gathering of kin. It is where ancient knowledges meets contemporary ideas, where stories are shared and futures are imagined. It is a place of listening and learning, of creativity and exchange, of deep respect for cultures that have endured existential challenges and collected wisdom worth hearing.
Professor Tristan Kennedy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) and Senior Vice-President:
"Kindred People is a genuine expression of Monash University's commitment to the amplification of Indigenous voices.
"We seek to bring about deep connections and to energetically encourage the creation and sharing of Indigenous knowledges and creative practices.
"We're proud and grateful to be presenting this groundbreaking festival on the unceded lands of the Boon Wurrung and welcome all those who wish to join us in listening and sharing."
Tom Molyneux, Creative Director, Kindred People:
"Kindred People is unique. It is a celebration of First Nations art, culture, ceremony and wisdom. It is a coming together of global communities, an exchange of knowledge, stories, truths, and research. It is a weaving together of our collective experiences in the face of existential challenges. It is healing. It is transformative. It is where tradition and the contemporary collide.
"At the cutting edge of academia, where accepted norms are challenged, gatekeepers are questioned, performativity is encouraged, culture is foregrounded, and the voices of our Ancestors are singing to us. All knowledges are welcome here."
The visual identity for Kindred People has been created in collaboration with acclaimed Gumbaynggirr artist and activist Aretha Brown, whose work captures the heartbeat of contemporary Blak expression.
Aretha's design draws together a constellation of symbols, from the eel and eel trap, honouring the peoples and sustainable technologies of south eastern Country, to mangroves revealing their proud root systems, a metaphor for truth and belonging. Her artwork features the speared kangaroo, a cheeky magpie, young mob, and the city, evoking strength, guidance, and the living energy of campus life. Modern icons like a turntable and trumpet connect ancient knowledge to the pulse of protest, music, and change.
Together, these elements reflect the spirit of Kindred People, a weaving of cultures, histories, and futures in conversation.
Aretha Brown, Artist:
This project is all about celebrating community and Blak connection, which is why it speaks to me so deeply. It makes total sense that Monash is creating a First Nations festival, and I'm so excited to see it come to life. Having taught Indigenous Studies there last year, it feels really special to contribute to something that honours Country and community here on Boon Wurrung land."My approach to weaving cultural knowledge into my art always begins with listening, to Country, to Elders, and to the local mob who continue to inspire and teach me what it means to live as an Aboriginal person here in Naarm. I'm a visitor from northern New South Wales, so I hold that responsibility with care and respect. This work is about interconnected stories, people, plants, Country, showing that our cultures are not just surviving but thriving. We're connected to land, to each other, and we stand together in solidarity. For me, art is cultural memory; it carries our songlines, our histories, and the power to unlearn, relearn, and rise together."
Guiding the festival with cultural authority and deep care is Professor N'arwee't Carolyn Briggs AM, Senior Boon Wurrung Elder and member of the Kindred People Steering Committee. Aunty Carolyn is the Founder and Chairperson of the Boon Wurrung Foundation and has dedicated her life to preserving and sharing Boon Wurrung language, knowledge and heritage. Through decades of teaching, advocacy and cultural leadership, she has ensured that her people, the Yaluk-ut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung, are recognised and celebrated as original custodians of this land.
Working in close collaboration with design studio Clear and Aretha Brown, Aunty Carolyn has guided the festival's creative identity to reflect the living murrup (spirit) of Country. The visual language draws inspiration from the Six Boon Wurrung Seasons, Pareip, Bullarto nye-wiiny, Weegabil nye-wiiny, Gareeral, Manameet and Beerreen, each represented through distinct colours and symbols that mirror the rhythms of land, sky and water. Together, these elements honour the cycles of renewal and relationship that sustain us, embedding Boon Wurrung knowledge and philosophy at the heart of Kindred People's design and story. The seasonal colours will evolve with the campaign.
Professor N'arwee't Carolyn Briggs AM, Senior Boon Wurrung Elder:
"Kindred People will be a ngargee (celebration) of our cultures, strength, and different ways of sharing knowledge and telling stories. The brand has been designed to be responsive to Boon Wurrung seasons, and we can't wait to watch it evolve as we get closer to the event."
Awaken Murrup: awaken the spirit within. Join us at Kindred People, a gathering where culture, creativity, and connection guide us toward shared healing and change.
