When the first light rises over Adelaide University’s City East campus on Thursday 5 March, students and community members will join First Nations Elders for a traditional Smoking Ceremony and Sunrise Welcome to Country, marking the very first Kaurna Day at Tirkangkaku – Adelaide University.
Kaurna Day, also known as Tirkanthi | Ngutu | Taikurrinthi (Learning | Knowledge | Be united together) is a day to honour, learn from and celebrate the living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
The combined Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony is a deeply significant Aboriginal cultural practice, where Traditional Owners officially welcome visitors to their ancestral lands. The smoke created from a ceremonial burning of native plants cleanses the space and the spirit, serving as a gesture of goodwill, peace, and safety.
Professor Steve Larkin, Deputy Vice Chancellor – Indigenous, says holding the ceremony at sunrise signals continuity and new beginnings – a deliberate way for Adelaide University to begin its next chapter grounded in respect for the knowledge systems of this Country.
“When we gather at sunrise, we are not just marking the start of a day, we are acknowledging thousands of generations who have watched this same light rise over Kaurna Country,” Prof Larkin says.
“A Smoking Ceremony prepares the space and the people. It reminds us that we carry responsibility – to Country, to each other and to the generations still to come.
“When people walk through the smoke at sunrise, they step into a shared space of learning and respect. Seeing a university begin its journey in this way shows respect for the knowledge that has always been here.”
While 2026 marks the first Kaurna Day for Adelaide University, the event was initially established in 2024 to celebrate the connection between the University and the First Nations Peoples on whose lands we live and learn – the Kaurna, Boandik, and Barngarla Peoples – and recognise the rich diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures across Australia.
Kaurna Day has become a signature event for staff, students and community alike.
Professor Nicola Philips, Vice Chancellor, says beginning Adelaide University’s first Kaurna Day at sunrise is both symbolic and intentional.
“As a new institution, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to build our future in genuine partnership with First Nations communities,” Prof Phillips says.
“Kaurna Day reminds us that Adelaide University – Tirkangkaku – exists on lands where knowledge and culture have been exchanged for more than 65,000 years. We are proud to begin our journey by listening, acknowledging Country, and preserving and creating spaces and practices that advance First Nations leadership.”
From 7:00am to 2:30pm, the Adelaide University City Campus East will come alive with music, dance, storytelling, workshops and community connection, celebrating the diversity and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures across Australia.
The program features:
- Performances by First Nations artists from the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM)
- Community stalls showcasing First Nations artists and vendors
- Student and researcher presentations highlighting First Nations-led research and learning
- Workshops welcoming walk-ins for silk painting, beading, and weaving
- A Kangaroo tail cooking demonstration
- Cultural activities, native animal displays and interactive experiences across the Barr Smith Lawns
Kaurna Day 2026 is a free community event held at Adelaide University’s City Campus East on North Terrace. The Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony will be held at 7:00am at the Kaurna Learning Circle at the base of the Barr Smith Lawns, with activities held on the Lawns across the day until 2:30pm.
Everyone is invited and welcome to join Kaurna Day.
For more information and to register your attendance, please visit: Kaurna Day 2026
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Media contact:
Annabel Mansfield, Senior Media Adviser Adelaide University. T: +61 479 182 489 E: Annabel.Mansfield@adelaide.edu.au