It was three glorious days of proudly showing off their culture to the world.

But it was more than that – the festival was also a demand to be heard.

This year’s three-day event was held 35 years after the Barunga Statement was handed to Bob Hawke.

Galarrwuy Yunupingu and Wenten Rubuntja presented the Barunga Statement to the then Prime Minister at the 1988 festival.

A message from Mr Hawke’s widow Blanche was read out at the festival by Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Linda Burney:

“There are many joys but also many tears in politics.

“Bob once said to me, ‘Yunupingu is a soul in torment. He grieves for his people. Bob grieved too.

“His greatest disappointment as Prime Minister was that he could not deliver his promise to Yunupingu with the indigenous people of Australia – for recognition.

“He loved Yunupingu and grieved that he’d let him down.

“Now all these decades later The Voice gives a chance for joy and celebration for the spirits of these two great men.

“Bob would want Australians to grab it with both hands.”

Mr Burney said at the opening of the Barunga Festival that the Voice referendum was an opportunity that should be grabbed with both hands by voting yes.

“Let’s honour the giants – Yunipingu and Hawke – by voting “yes” for a Voice.

“Let’s take the next step forward as a nation, together.”