Welcome to the heart of the country,
You are invited into the ancient lands of the central desert, the heart of this country. For nine days we will gather sitting in circle, sleeping under the stars and traversing to different Indigenous clans and lands to listen and learn from the oldest living culture in the world. Together, we will come to meet the truth, feel the truth and be transformed by the truth of this land and it’s people. This is not just about our past and our colonial impacts, it’s also about our power and our healing, coming back to our own true nature.
Together we will traverse the beauty of the desert, open our senses, weather the elements, decolonise our minds and return to our wild soul. It’s a pilgrimage into the heart of our humanity.
The intention is…
To sit with Custodians on their land, hear their stories and connect in right relationship
It looks like…
Traversing country in a car convoy to three different Indigenous communities
Spending time on country learning together
Sitting in circle as women to share our stories and deepen into our own wisdom
It feels like…
Deeply connecting to the land
Being supported by a tribe of women (each other)
Feeling a sense of belonging
The Transformation...
Story changes us, we walk with the Custodians of this country and hear their stories of challenge with colonisation as well as their stories of culture and connection. It’s the whole story that will open our minds and hearts to the Indigenous ways of being, seeing and feeling the world.
5th-14th September, 2026
Alice Springs, NT
Cost:
Earlybird – $1950 (ends 1st May)
Full exchange – $2150
Cost covers accomodation, food, airport transport, time with elders and ALL activities (does not include flights)
More info and to apply:
https://www.gatheraustralia.org/deseretpilgrimage
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Accommodation
We will be bush camping, sleeping in swags under the stars round the fire, you can also bring a tent if you prefer.
There are showers and toilets most nights with limited kitchen facilities, mostly cooking on the fire.
Food
This is a communal effort, we supply the food but cook and clean together. We can accomodate to your food requirements.
Flights
Fly in and out of Alice Springs airport.
We can organise transport from the airport to camp.
For cheaper flights you can arrange to come earlier or leave later, but you may need to arrange your own transport if it is more than 2 days prior or post camp.
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About Karla
Hi,
I grew up walking bare feet in the red earth, on Kamilaroy country in western New South Wales. For me, I have always felt at home in the Australian bush. It’s this love for country that led me to the deserts of central Australia where I discovered the power of cultural lore holders and the devastation of colonisation. That was back in 2016, since that time I have walked alongside these people as an activist and a voice for Country and Custodians. My activism is expressed in a deep devotion to healing, reconnecting to country and spoken word. Gather is born from this devotion, it's a space for us all to walk this journey of healing together.
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Testimonies
” It was such a privilege also to feel connection with the indigenous elders that shared their culture, I really got to witness their connection to the land through the ceremonies and in listening to their stories.”
Jaclyn Cunningham – Founder and facilitator of Radiant Woman
"I had the privilege to join Karla and other women on the 9-day desert pilgrimage. Travelling through the country and meeting its people was a truly profound experience.
The slow paced, immersive and respectful nature of the journey enabled us to connect deeply with the land, nature and indigenous people. We got to visit sacred sites, meet aunties and uncles, learn lots about bush medicine, bush tucker, the history of this land and hear personal stories from the people that were brought up by this land for many generations.
By hearing the stories of the country and its people, by sitting with the grief and sadness that these lands carry, I found the beauty of resilience, continuous celebration of life and the great possibility of unity. This experience made me feel more connected with my own roots and ancestry and with humanity as a whole, for as I got to feel, we are not that different."
Brigita
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We acknowledge the Arrernte, Western Arrernte & Kaytej people as the Custodians of the lands we will journey on together.
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This is also the second half of our 21 day desert pilgrimage. You can be a part of the full 21 day pilgrimage from Kununurra in the Kimberley. Find out more through our website or event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2980621772143062
You may also like the following events from Gather Australia :
Also check out other
Contests in Alice Springs,
Meetups in Alice Springs,
Trips & Adventurous Activities in Alice Springs.
