Tracing Kwatye on a Dry River: a storied walk along the Todd River

About Tracing Kwatye on a Dry River: a storied walk along the Todd River

Early colonial imaginings of the Centre were of a giant inland sea. For thousands of years prior, the presence or absence of water determined patterns of habitation and routes of travel for Aboriginal people. Today, water is scarce, increasingly expensive and deeply political.

Here the river comes and goes, transforming the country with each cycle of return.

Led by local journalist and author Glenn Morrison, this storied walk will follow the dry Todd River for 2 kms along its shady banks, from Spencer Hill to the festival at Olive Pink Botanic Garden, retracing the water story of Alice Springs/Mparntwe. Along the way, four local writers and storytellers – Pat Ansell-Dodds, Alex Nelson, Meg Mooney and Sharon Alice – will offer stories and readings that begin to build a picture of how deeply this river’s story weaves in andout of all stories of this place – stories of settlement, of fire and flood, the changing culture and ecology, regeneration and renewal.

At the end of the walk participants are invited to plant a tree on the banks of the river, returning what was once a river red gum forest.

Limited capacity – presale only.

*Plus Booking Fee