The Long Walk is pleased to support The Journey to Recognition, officially announced at the National Press Club today, which will take the movement to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the nation’s Constitution to everyday Australians.

The Long Walk will be held in Melbourne before Dreamtime at the G on Saturday 25 May, 2013 and The Journey for Recognition will launch the following day on Sunday 26 May.

Michael Long, Patron of The Long Walk, will take the first steps on the journey, leading Australians on the road to recognition. It echoes his powerful quest in 2004 to put the plight of his people back on the agenda.

Mr Long said he was inspired to back the cause of constitutional recognition because it would help to bring all Australians together, after so long living apart.

“Recognising this first chapter of our story – the Indigenous story – in our Constitution would formally make it part of our shared story as a nation,” Mr Long said.

“So all Australians could know they share in this story too – and help to safeguard the world’s oldest living cultures for future generations.”

The Long Walk is a charity inspired by Michael Long’s walk to Canberra in 2004 to get the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Islander people back on the national agenda. The Long Walk raises awareness to improve and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, wellbeing and life opportunities.

Australians will be able to follow The Journey to Recognition’s progress and join along the way. For more information on when the journey will be in your area, visit www.recognise.org.au.

Join The Long Walk in Alice Springs on March 30, Melbourne and Sydney on May 25 and Darwin on June 1. For more information visit www.thelongwalk.com.au.