Garma leaves a mark on visitors from across the globe

Native American representatives travelled to the Northern Territory to share their customs at Garma. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

The Garma Festival attracts thousands of people to one of Australia's most remote regions each year. 

The local Yolngu culture is front and centre, with art, music, and bunggul (ceremonial dance) all showcased during the four-day festival. 

But in its 25th year, some guests have travelled further than most to share their culture and customs and exchange knowledge in the festival's red dirt. 

Representatives from the Navajo, Comanche, Kiowa, Sioux, Pueblo and Lakota nations travelled from North America to share their culture with festival-goers, with members of the group performing at the nightly bunggul.

During a panel discussion on Sunday, Lakota and Navajo man Seneca Holy Cloud Martin said he was honoured to be able to share his culture, particularly with the youngest festival attendees. 

"When I was dressed up in my regalia, in my garment, I had these little boys come up to me and asking me, what is this," he said.

"It's always nice to have that feeling of kids being curious and wondering."

Representatives from the Navajo, Comanche, Kiowa, Sioux, Pueblo and Lakota nations attended Garma. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

A delegation of dignitaries from the Pacific exchanged gifts with local Yolgnu leaders and shared their reflections on similarities in their cultures.

Member for North Bougainville Open and Assistant Speaker in the Papua New Guinea Parliament, Francesca Rianna Semoso, reflected on the children who danced in the bunggul, saying the tradition inspired her to pass down culture and dance to her grandchildren. 

"On the first day, I was seeing six boys dance and one of them was only about three years old," she said.

PNG's Francesca Rianna Semoso says she is inspired by her experience at Garma. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

"It sent me a message straight to my heart, that I need to be teaching my grandchildren ... about my own dances. They need to know that."

Although it was the smallest of the attendees who made the biggest impression on some of the international visitors, Garma as a whole has left an immense mark, Melonie Mathews said.

"We brought the spirits of our people with us, and we hope that you have felt them," she said, speaking on a panel of North American delegates.

"We're just eternally grateful for the opportunity to be able to have shared that."