WHEN it comes to celebration, our Aboriginal community is well to the fore. That was obvious the other day when  the Centenary of Canberra launched its 2013 Indigenous cultural program and it will be even more obvious this weekend when on Saturday and Sunday, the National Multicultural Festival hosts its Indigenous Showcase. 

It’s about time, Centenary creative director Robyn Archer reckons, that the profile of indigenous artists was raised to centre stage at such celebratory events and without doubt  our oldest culture is worth celebrating as a key part of the many-faceted society Australia has become.

No worries. This weekend, audiences will be treated to  top-class performances by singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Christine Anu the Stiff Gins, Nardi And Kaleena  and prizewinning hip-hop trio of Weno, Nay and DJ Jaytee — The Last Kinection – performing in Civic Square.

They’ll be joined by Wiradjuri Echoes, Dance Beyond Barriers, Hung Parliament, Gugan Gulwan Group, Ben Walker, Uncle Jandamarra Wall, Kevin Kropenyeri, Amy Minchin, Dale Huddleston and the Riverbank Band, Hidden Desire, Closing The Gap and Yirri Dancers.

Simultaneously, Aarwun Gallery in Gold Creek is throwing a big celebration for its show of works by the Warlunkurlangu artists of Yuendumu on Sunday February 10. From 10:30am to 2pm they’ll have didgeridoo player Paul House, the Ngambri dancers, storyteller Larry Brandy and the songstresses the Stiff Gins.

Elsewhere in Canberra, The National Gallery of Australia continues its celebration of art in “Warakurna: All the stories got into our minds and eyes,” while Chapman Gallery in Manuka will have just opened a show from Tjala Arts.

Indigenous Showcase, Stage 5, in front of Canberra Theatre, 10am to 11pm, February 9 and   11am to 4pm Sunday February 10.