On Sunday a crowd of up to 5000 Canberrans convened on the lawns of the National Australian Library before descending upon Parliament House, to 'Walk for Yes' and demonstrate their support for the Yes Campaign in the lead up to the referendum.

The crowd were Welcomed to Ngunnawal Country by Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan before venturing on toward Australian Parliament House.

Bundjalung and Yorta Yorta man Joe Hedger during his speech at Walk for Yes Canberra. (Video: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

Amongst the crowd were prominent Canberrans including ACT Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Rachel Stephen-Smith, Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Jude Barlow, Senator David Pocock, ACT Magistrate and Kamilaroi woman Louise Taylor and Deputy Chair of ACT's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elected body Goomeri and Bigumbul woman Paula McGrady.

Worimi woman Alex Leon, Ngunnawal Traditional Owner Noah Allan, Goomeri and Bigumbul woman Paula McGrady, ACT Magistrate and Kamilaroi woman Louise Taylor, Bundjalung and Yorta Yorta man Joe Hedger and Independent Senator David Pocock. (Image: Jess Whaler)

Throughout the event a diverse crowd listened to engaging speeches by Canberra based First Nations Yes supporters and leaders in their respective fields; Bidjara woman Professor Maree Meredith, Bundjalung and Yorta Yorta man Joe Hedger, Kamilaroi and Ngunnawal Traditional Owner Noah Allan, Lardil and Worimi woman Alex Leon. Speeches were followed by entertainment that included popular musicians rocker and ex Grinspoon frontman Phil Jamison and indie rock artist Josh Pyke who both performed on the lawns of Parliament House.

During her speech, Aunty Violet Sheridan said: "I'm hoping this referendum makes it, and I say from the bottom of my heart again, thank you and I hope Australia's listening to everybody around Australia."

Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan at the Walk for Yes event in Canberra. (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

"Today I speak to you, not just as a Ngunnawal Elder, but has someone who has witnessed the changes in our land, our peoples over the years, our roots here in Canberra are deep and our connections to this land is unbreakable

Aunty Violet shared her support for a Voice to Parliament and encouraged all Australians to Vote Yes in the referendum, further stating that a yes vote is "of profound importance to us the people of Canberra

"This land has heard the stories of our ancestors, for countless generation it holds the knowledge, the wisdom passed down through the culture, traditions, supporting the voice to parliament is a way of saying that our history our stories our wisdoms matter, not just to us but to all Australians," she said.

"This isn't just about the past it's about the future, our voices deserve to be heard in the decisions that shape our lives of our children, our grandchildren.

"This isn't a political matter, it is a matter of respect and justice."

University of Canberra's, Pro Vice Chancellor Indigenous - Maree Meredith said: "There are moments in our life when we are privileged. Privileged to be alive, to be free, privileged to have energy, agency and opportunity to let our voice be heard."

University of Canberra - Office of Indigenous Leadership's Nicole Kilby and Maree Meredith at the Canberra Walk for Yes event, following Ms Meredith's speech. (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

"Virtually all Australians are born with a voice but some end up being heard more loudly than others, some are more truthful than others and some are just nicer to listen to," she said.

"But my people share their voices for eight years less than non-indigenous Australians on average and we all agree that this is not good enough. This is not good enough for the country that wants to be the land of the fair go. Which is why this referendum is so important.

"It is our single best opportunity in a generation to let communities have a say about government policies that affect them. It's a chance for taxpayers money to be spent better. It's a chance to allow my people to start to overcome some of the entrenched disadvantage that has been so well documented in communities and in households.

"I am grateful to every one of you who has taken a step for yes this weekend who recognise that the voice to parliament is our best shot at giving me and my daughter and her children an change to share our voice with other Australians for longer. The hope for a life expectancy that is as long as is for non-indigenous Australians."

Bundjalung and Yorta Yorta man Joe Hedger said: "We are just over three weeks from a referendum that's going to change the course of this nation. We can win this referendum."

"But we're not going to win it alone Canberra, we need all of Australia to get behind us to win this referendum we need everyone," he said.

"Voting yes that's a vote that's going to unify this nation not divide it. Voting yes is a vote to take our country forward not backwards. Voting yes is a vote to make sure the money goes to where it is going to make a difference and not wasted. Voting yes is a vote so those people in the Kimberly have a say about what happens to their community, not Canberra.

"There's a lot of people who are going to say no, there's a lot of people who believe that we don't exist. Voting yes is a vote to tell those people impacted by colonisation that we hear y9ou we respect you and we acknowledge what you have been through.

"Voting Yes is a vote to say that those members of the stolen generations we acknowledge your hurt, we acknowledge your pain we are not here to erase it or dismiss it we acknowledge it, and we thank you for everything you bring to our community."

Lardil & Worimi woman Alex Leon said: "Even though I live here in Canberra, an affluent city with readily available resources and opportunities, I am acutely aware that this is not the same for other regions in our country, especially for Aboriginal communities - like my community back home on Mornington Island, where my people live in poverty and are still heavily affected by the ongoing impacts of colonisation. Can I make it clear, that it is absolutely crucial that we are not ignorant to this."

ACT Minister for Indigenous Affairs Rachel Stephen-Smith with Lardil and Worimi woman Alex Leon. (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

Ms Leon then thanked the crowd for checking in on mob during this time, as "it is extremely difficult for us".

"Thank you for calling out racism, we have twenty seven days left until the referendum and to define who we are as a nation. I truly believe that we have got this, what we have been seeing in the media and in the polling stats is so different to what we are seeing and hearing and feeling every day out on the ground in our communities," she said.

Lardil and Worimi woman Alex Leon at the end of her speech at the Walk for Yes event Canberra. (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

"So I say, twenty seven days, keep having those conversations and using compassion and education on those who are still distracted by fear and misinformation, keep advocating for equality, keep rising about the noise, keep demonstrating love and kindness by sharing truth, keep showing up keep visible and when it comes to October 14th vote yes."

Ngunnawal and Kamilaroi man Noah Allan opened his speech by acknowledging Ngunnawal land in language.

"I want to stress the profound significance of all of our voices here today, our voices do not only showcase Australians support of the voice to parliament but also provides a valuable insight into how our everyday grass roots Australians can be remarkably effective in advocating for change," he continued.

Ngunnawal and Kamilaroi man Noah Allan and grandson of Aunty Violet Sheridan, during his speech at Canberra's Walk for Yes event. (Image: Jess Whaler)

"This referendum is no longer just an Aboriginal and Torres strait islander issue, we've come to the collective realisation that the challenges our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are facing are no longer their sole burden to bare. Because at the end of the day we are all Australians and reconciliation is a mutual journey."

The atmosphere of the crowd was positive and following Mr Allan's speech Mitch Tambo's version of John Farnham's 'You're the voice' echoed loud.

See highlights of speeches in the video below.

Walk for Yes CBR, AUS - highlights. (Video: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

More photos from the event, captured by Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times.

Youthful Yes Campaign Advovate. (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

The YES crowd (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

A Yes Campaign punter. (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

The YES crowd at Parliament House. (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

Australian children supporting the event. (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)

Indie-rock star Josh Pyke (Image: Jess Whaler - National Indigenous Times)