First Nations' Mardi Gras float issues climate call

A First Nations group has used the queer community's night of nights to call for collective care for nature, paying tribute to Mother Earth at the annual Mardi Gras parade.

Among the 170 floats and 10,000-odd marchers at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on Saturday night was the work of Yamurrah, a group of Indigenous social workers, psychologists, trauma specialists, lawyers and more.

The iconic Weather Girls track It's Raining Men was remixed to match their chosen theme "Mother Earth, you better work".

"We wanted to hold a spotlight on the impacts of global warming and call for a collective responsibility in terms of how we all care for the earth, particularly thinking about how different communities are impacted by climate change," Yamurrah social worker Locky Bygrave told AAP.

"This is really important for queer First Nations communities in Australia and around the world who experience the direct impacts of climate change."

Yamurrah had about 55 float participants, who were asked to choose their costumes based on earthy colours, including greens, blues and browns.

"We didn't want a costume to take away people's individuality ... you want to give people the ability to be creative within a cohesive colour theme," Mr Bygrave said.

The planning required to take part in the Mardi Gras parade doesn't happen overnight, with Mr Bygrave saying it involved months of preparation and organisation.

A private Facebook group helped connect everyone in the lead-up and ensure they had an opportunity to learn the choreography.

"We've got a few dancers in our parade but it's been tricky to do face-to-face rehearsals because we have people travelling from outside Sydney, so doing it online is a great way to ensure accessibility," Mr Bygrave said.

"We have people from all over, coming from Port Macquarie, the Central Coast, Wollongong, Greater Sydney.

"It's a huge process all the way up until the night of the event."