Anthropology

Alwyn Doolan walked 8,000km from Cape York to Canberra for Indigenous reconciliation

ABC Wide Bay / By Jenae Jenkins, Rachel McGhee, and Inga Stünzner
Posted Thu 23 May 2019 at 6:41pmThursday 23 May 2019 at 6:41pm, updated Tue 28 May 2019 at 3:04am

A man has walked more than 8,000 kilometres to deliver a message of reconciliation to Canberra. Alwyn Doolan, a Gooreng Gooreng and Wakka Wakka man, spent a year walking from the tip of Queensland to the steps of Parliament House to collect messages of reconciliation from 50 Indigenous nations.

Starting in Bamaga in Cape York, Mr Doolan travelled through the sunshine state to New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania before heading to the national capital.

"A lot of it came from within my self belief," he said. "With a journey like this there has to be that courage in the mind to overcome challenges and push through.
"What confirms this journey is the support that people are encouraging and giving me determination … That's how I survived.

Mr Doolan said he sought advice from the Aboriginal elders in the areas he travelled through.
"[In] every section of Australia there are parts where native plants and fruit don't grow, so while in those communities I would find out through the knowledgeable elders what I can and can't eat.
"I would identify … particular berries or nuts and even medicine to utilise."

More:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-24/man-walks-8000km-to-deliver-reconciliation-message-to-canberra/11141742