A traditional owner-led event on Horseshoe Bend at Dimboola from Friday to Sunday will celebrate Wotjobaluk culture through the strengthening and showcase of cultural practices.

The Community Gathering: Bakang Dyakata Earth Oven Re-creation will reconnect communities and share and promote cultural ideas for the enjoyment and benefit of traditional owners and their future generations.

The main showcase will be making a traditional Aboriginal earth oven, which communities used for cooking foods such as Murnong.

The family event will also include a dance workshop, clap stick making, basket weaving and musical singalongs with Australian singer-songwriter Neil Murray.

Wimmera CMA Aboriginal water officer Ben Muir said the events followed feedback from the ‘Community Gathering - River Yarns’ event earlier this year.

He said when Aboriginal community members, volunteer groups, historical societies and local and state government representatives travelled from Horsham to Lake Albacutya for River Yarns, it highlighted an opportunity for more traditional owner-led activities and sharing of knowledge and cultural practices.

“This weekend’s event and the bark canoe event are part of an ongoing focus on groups working together more closely to document and celebrate cultural values, stories, memories and the Aboriginal community’s connection to the Wimmera River,” he said.

“This weekend’s gathering is a continuation of these ongoing partnerships.

“It’s all about working together to create opportunities to build confidence and cultural knowledge through the generations with the support of the broader community.”