Alwyn Doolan is carrying a message stick 7000 km from Bamaga to Parliament House in Canberra, aiming to inspire healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia.

Engaging with as many communities as possible on his journey, Alwyn will eventually be seeking audience with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to submit a notice about Aboriginal sovereignty rights and treaty negotiations.

Afterwards, he will take to the road again, walking from Canberra to Uluru for a nationwide First Nations Conference. 

The 28-year-old said he considers himself a warrior for his people and hopes to create a better future for the next generation.

“Truth telling is about healing our nation,” Alwyn said. “Treaty is moving forward, as we share, learn and grow together.

“As sovereign First Nations People, we have the right to make decisions ourselves about our sustainability in our communities and not to have inappropriate government bodies intervene or deny the lore of the land.”

Alwyn was welcomed at Bellingen’s Maam Gaduying Park by Gumbaynggirr man Michael Jarrett and a crowd of about 30 people.

Continuing his walk to Dorrigo at 4.30am on Thursday, he was accompanied by Luke Rhodes, Danielle Barnes, their 11-year-old son Manning Rhodes and law student Mieke Tobey, plus a support vehicle manned by Sean May and Raymond Witt.

They saw the sun come up as they passed through the Gordonville Cutting and all save Danielle and Manning (who walked as far as Thora) arrived in Dorrigo seven hours after they set out.

Luke and Mieke said it was an honour to walk with Alwyn for this small portion of his journey.

“It seemed big to walk 30 km to Dorrigo but when you think about Alwyn’s 7000 km it really puts it in perspective!” Luke said.

“It was such an honour to walk with Alwyn and to help carry his message of healing and reconciliation to Parliament,” Mieke said. “As a student of international and comparative law, I’ve had a long interest in the legal situation which underpins Indigenous issues in this country. I hope to one day see the incredible Indigenous wisdom and values that have survived colonisation assume a rightful place in our political landscape.”

Alwyn expects to arrive in Canberra by April. You can follow him on Facebook @MessageStickWalk and contribute to his costs via http://www.gofundme.com/mswalk4us