As part of the Canberra leg, ANU will host the official Welcome to Country, led by Ngambri-Kamberri, Walgalu and Wiradjuri custodian Paul Girrawah House, followed by a smoking ceremony on campus. This will take place at the Lowitja O'Donoghue Centre on Tuesday 26 May, with the walk expected to arrive at approximately 11:00am.
ANU warmly invites our students, staff, alumni and broader community to join us for the Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony and be part of this important moment.
If you would like to attend, please register your attendance to assist with planning.
The walk will travel from Victorian Parliament in Naarm to Parliament House in Canberra, arriving on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country during National Reconciliation Week. This final leg brings communities together in the nation’s capital to support a national truth-telling process developed in partnership with First Nations peoples.
For those interested in joining the walk, participants are welcome at key points across Canberra:
9-11am: Public walk - Netball ACT (Thurbon Road) to ANU, 60 Barry Drive (approx. 4.5 KM) - register here
11am-12.30pm: ANU walk-through event (as listed above)
1.30-2.30pm AIATSIS event - register here
2.30-5.30pm Public walk - AIATSIS to Reconciliation Place (approx. 6km) - register here
This journey invites people across Australia to walk together toward truth, recognising the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and honouring the world’s oldest continuing cultures.
More information, including full route details, is available on the Walk for Truth website.
Preparation
The suggested preparation is to "do your research" into the activity/event. For example, if you are going to see a guest speaker present, do a little background research, such as spending some time reading their latest work, finding out about them (ie wikipedia, etc), or listening to an interview with them.
For Students
Students can attend this event as part of a KNoT, our Knowledge and Being Workshops that can contribute to course requirements. KNoTs are workshops designed to help students develop the skills, knowledge, and ways of being that are essential for working in complex, real-world contexts.
Campus KNoT
About Campus KNoTs. Campus KNOTs are a way to explore learning opportunities that are running on Campus.There are many great places where learning happens outside...
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Indigenous Perspectives
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2026 National Walk for Truth
About Campus KNoTs. Campus KNOTs are a way to explore learning opportunities that are running on Campus.There are many great places where learning happens outside of formal classes,...
Date: Tuesday 26 May 2026 11am–1:30pm
Location: Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre - The Gallery (Building 153)
This is an event in the SoCIETIE Initiative: a 6-unit transdisciplinary course open to all students. You don’t need to be in the class to join. RSVP to secure your spot.
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2026 National Walk for Truth
2026 National Walk for Truth
Tue 26 May, 11am · Lowitja O’Donoghue Cultural Centre