EACH year since 2004, when Michael Long famously walked from Melbourne to Parliament House in Canberra, Australians have echoed their concerns for Indigenous welfare through The Long Walk.

In 2008, the walk that has come to represent a collective desire for reconciliation bears greater significance than ever before.

It is the first to be undertaken since the newly-elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said “sorry” to the stolen generations on behalf of a nation, allowing it to move forward through a genuine acknowledgement of the past.

And it is the first Long Walk to be led by people from the stolen generations.

The walk from Federation Square to the MCG will conclude two days of activities celebrating Indigenous culture on May 23 to 24.

One thousand participants will continue onto the MCG surface to be part of the pre-match entertainment for the Dreamtime at the G match between Essendon and Richmond. Those looking on from the stands light up the stadium with 50,000 glow sticks that will be distributed among the crowd.

AFL Ambassador and Essendon champion Michael Long said Dreamtime at the G and The Long Walk crossed cultural barriers.

“Bringing the Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and cultures together is central to both events and The Long Walk is delighted to again be sharing the stage on one of the biggest nights of the football season,” Long said.

“It would be great to see a sea of people swarming over the bridge from Federation Square to the MCG.”

The Long Walk activities commence at Federation Square on Saturday, May 24 at 2.30pm with performances, displays and exhibitions. The walk will depart at approximately 5.30pm and continue through Birrarung Marr, across the William Barak Bridge to the MCG. Registration is not required to participate.

Dreamtime at the G pre-match entertainment will include Paul Kelly, Kev Carmody, Jessica Mauboy and Indigenous theatre performer Ursula Yovich. Local didgeridoo player Ron Murray and dance group Koori Youth Will Shakespeares will also perform.

Federation Square Events and Activities
Friday May 23: 10am-3pm and Saturday May 24: 2.30pm-5.30pm
- Music and artistic performances
- AFL player appearances
- Cultural games and workshops
- Stalls and displays from a range of community organisations
- Big screen video presentations – including the curtain-raiser between Santa Teresa and the Fitzroy Stars on Saturday afternoon
- The Long Walk will commence from Federation Square at approximately 5.30pm on Saturday afternoon.