The Lake Bolac Eel Festival is held at Lake Bolac in southwest Victoria in autumn to celebrate the Eel harvest. It continues a tradition that goes back tens of thousands of years when Indigenous peoples from the area gathered for important business; to trade goods, conduct ceremonies and share stories.

Begun in 2005 by Neil Murray, singer/songwriter from the area and founding member of the Warumpi Band, the Festival recognises this historic gathering and attracts people from all walks of life to come to the shores of Lake Bolac for the eel harvest to share, learn, remember and celebrate. The festival is now held every two years.

Earth Matters speaks to Indigenous Cultural Artist Brett Clarke, two of the Festival organisers, Ayesha Burdett and Gen Blades, Emily Innes from Worn Bundj Native Nursery, Talia Robertson-Wilson and James Flaherty from the Kirrae Health Service, Kim Thomson, eel enthusiast from Melbourne and Malcolm Johnson, an eel advocate, geographer, ecologist and PhD student.

Music: Boorook 'Keep the Dream Alive'

For more information about the Lake Bolac Eel Festival, go to the website: www.eelfestival.org.au.

For more information on the Yoorrook Justice Commission go to the website here.