Fire gives strength, energy and power, and will be central to this year's Garma Festival in the Northern Territory.
Australia's largest Indigenous cultural festival attracts thousands of people to northeast Arnhem Land each year.
Held at Gulkula, a significant ceremonial site about 40 kilometres from Nhulunbuy on the Gove peninsula, the festival showcases Yolngu culture through traditional miny'tji (art), manikay (song), bunggul (dance) and storytelling.
Thousands of people attend the annual four-day celebration of Yolngu life and culture. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
The event is also a space for discussion and debate on the challenges facing First Nations people, attracting people in political, business, academic, and philanthropic sectors from across Australia and internationally.
This year's event, beginning on Friday, is the first Garma Festival since the defeat of the referendum for an Indigenous voice to parliament.
Yothu Yindi Foundation chairman Djawa Yunupingu said this year's Garma would look toward the future.
Mr Yunupingu said just as the land springs back to life after a fire, Yolngu people were prepared for the future after the rejection of the voice.
"Many Australians are still hurting after the vote, which followed years of hard work by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders," he said.
"We have felt the fire of Australians who didn't approve of our proposals, who rejected us with their own intensity.
"That is now in the past and we choose to look to the future."
A youth forum is a part of the Garma Festival. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)
'Gurtha-Wuma Worrk-gu - Fire, Strength and Renewal' is the theme for the 24th annual Garma Festival.
Gurtha (fire) is an important concept for Yolngu people, with Mr Yunupingu saying it is the foundation of life.
"My totem is the tongue of the fire, Gurtha, and Gurtha-Wuma Worrk-gu is deeply connected to the ceremonies of the land," he said.
"Following fire, the land and all that is in it renews and comes back to life - and with it the people.
"This is the Yolngu circle of life."