The Spirit Walker
Clinton Pryor has just been for a walk – a very long walk. Over the course of more than 360 days, he has trekked across the whole of Australia. He made the journey to meet Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian prime minister, and stand up for the rights of his people – Aboriginal Australians.
Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for as long as 80,000 years. The arrival of Western settlers, in the 18th century, changed their lives for the worse. Pryor walked 3,600 miles, earning himself the nickname Spirit Walker, to “find the truth of indigenous Australia”. He was shocked at what he saw – people uncared for, living in poor conditions. His meeting with Turnbull was short and unsatisfying, but the Spirit Walker isn’t finished. “I’m thinking about going to England to see the Queen,” he says.