In 1824, the Wiradjuri warrior Windradyne trekked more than 200 kilometres from his home on the Central Tablelands of what is now called New South Wales all the way to Parramatta.
The violence of the Frontier Wars was wreaking havoc on the lives of First Peoples across the continent, reaching a peak that year on Wiradjuri Country with the declaration by Governor Brisbane of martial law.
That bloody chapter, known as the Bathurst War, reached an uneasy conclusion with the lifting of martial law in December 1824, and later that month Windradyne made the journey off Country to Governor Brisbane's annual feast, all in the name of peace for his people.
200 years later, fellow Wiradjuri man Paul Towney is encouraging his people to return to Country for a summit in Orange this weekend, with events over two days coinciding with the January 26 holiday.
"We will be talking about our sovereignty rights as Wiradjuri nation that was never ceded to colonial government authority to this day," Towney tells NITV.
"It'll be on the colonial Australia Day celebrations ... We aim to celebrate resistance [of the] colonisation of our lands."
It's something he's celebrated before.
Windradyne is a hero to Towney; last year he recreated the famous warrior's walk to Parramatta, honouring the fierce resistance that Windradyne and Wiradjuri people displayed in the face of colonial irruption.
It's a resistance that continues to this day, and the centrepiece of Towney's plans for the weekend.
"I'm calling on all Wiradjuri to come home, for us to sit down and talk about healing the scars of colonisation [which have led] to today's disparities."
Walks, talks, corroboree and sovereignty
Towney has very public displays planned for the weekend.
A march down the main drag of Orange on Saturday morning will end in Robertson Park, where Paul will declare in a speech that Wiradjuri people have 'returned home'.
That evening, the shores of Lake Canobolas just outside Orange will play host to a corroboree til sunset, a time, says Towney, for connection, joy and celebration of Wiradjuri culture.
Sunday, January 26 will be reserved for talks, particularly focusing on sovereignty, and what that might mean for Wiradjuri.
"It's up for discussion with all my other Elders," he says.
"To me it's simple: everyone pays taxes.
"Whether it's federal, state or local, they tax people; we tax them (governments), for being on Wiradjuri nation lands, occupied without authority.
"We got to start charging these colonial governments."
The political appetite for such a proposal may be scarce, but Towney hopes to have the support of at least one prominent figure over the weekend, with Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe set to attend.
While the New South Wales government is currently seeking submissions for its process towards treaty, Towney is focused on his event, and his people.
"I can't talk for other nations across Australia. I can only talk to the proud Wiradjuri descendants of my ancestors that fought and died on our lands."
