Yahoo News Invasion Day 2023: a guide to protests, marches and events across Australia on 26 January
Indigenous communities and allies are coming together to mark Invasion Day, or Survival Day, with marches, smoking ceremonies and gatherings planned across the country on Thursday 26 January.
Here is a list of events and gatherings in major cities around Australia.
New South Wales
A Dawn Reflection has been organised at the Sydney Opera House for 5.20am on Thursday, with attenders invited to pause and reflect. The Sydney Opera House will also be lit up by First Nations artwork by proud Kamilaroi woman and artist, Rhonda Sampson, coinciding with the raising of the Aboriginal flag on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup
The annual Invasion Day rally will be held at Belmore Park in the CBD, and is scheduled to begin at 9.30am.
After the rally, the annual Yabun festival will return to its customary location at Victoria Park on Broadway. The festival is the largest one-day gathering and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia.
The WugulOra Morning Ceremony will be held at Barangaroo Reserve from 7.30am and will feature special performances and a smoking ceremony.
In Newcastle, the Day of Mourning event will begin at 10am at Customs House fountain. At 11.30am, there will be a walk up wharf road to “release” sorry business.
The Griffith Local Aboriginal Land Council is hosting a Survival Day event at the Griffith Regional Aquatic & Leisure Centre from 11am, and will feature performances, special guests and stalls.
Victoria
Melbourne’s annual Invasion Day protest will begin at 11am at Victorian Parliament House.
A dawn service is also being organised at Kings Domain Resting Place, at 5am.
Our Survival Day, a family-friendly community day featuring cultural experiences, music and food, will be held at The Briars, Mount Martha, from noon.
Share the Spirit, a community-based festival celebrating 20 years this year, will be held at Sidney Myer Music Bowl from 11am. The showcase of First Nations music, art, craft and culture features a lineup of performers that includes Dan Sultan, Yambra, Doe Eyes, Meriki Hood and more.
A Survival Day Dawn Ceremony is being at held at Viewpoint, Lake Wendouree in Ballarat, and begins at 5.30am.
Torquay is hosting the Pilk Purriyn Truth-telling event at 5.30am at Cosy Corner beach, with a smoking ceremony, music, deep-listening and reflection.
ACT
The Sovereignty Day-Isabell Coe Memorial Lecture has been organised by the Aboriginal Tent Embassy for Invasion Day, and begins at 9.30am.
Queensland
Brisbane’s annual Invasion Day Rally will be held at Queens Gardens, and begins at 11am.
A Survival Day ceremony has also been organised for Thursday morning, beginning at 7.15am for a 7.30am start at the waters of the Benarrawa (Oxley Creek).
In Townsville, a series of events have been organised to mark Survival Day, beginning with a dawn service and followed by a Survival Day Walk, to be held at the Strand from 6.30am.
Northern Territory
A smoking ceremony will be held at 7.50am, with storytelling and performances at Darwin Waterfront.
South Australia
A Survival Day March will begin at Victoria Square in Adelaide, at 12.30pm.
Mourning in the Morning, a smoking ceremony to mark Invasion Day, will be held at Elder Park in Adelaide at 7am.
Western Australia
An Invasion Day march and gathering at Forrest Chase in Perth will begin at 12pm.
The Supreme Court Gardens in Perth is the venue for the Birak concert, which celebrates Western Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through music, dance and artand kicks off at 3pm.
Family-friendly Indigenous performances are at the heart of Broome’s Rubibi Survival Day event being held at the Gimme Gimme Club from 5.30pm.
Tasmania
The Invasion Day street march has been organised by the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, and will start at 10.45am from 198 Elizabeth Street. A rally is scheduled to begin on Parliament Lawns at midday.
A street march has also been organised in Devonport, to begin at Tulaminakali Health Service at 11.30am, and with a rally organised at Market Square at midday.
