TO mark National Reconciliation Week, Parliament House will be illuminated from Monday until Wednesday in the shapes, colours and landscapes of Central Australia.

Taken from “My Country”, artworks by Luritja artist Kayannie Denigan who lives and works in Canberra, the illuminations feature the mountains, night skies, rivers, desert flowers and stars of both the Luritja deserts in the NT and the Kuku Yalanji beaches and rainforests in Queensland.

There’ll also be a night of star-gazing event at the House with First Nations astronomer Peter Swanton and astrophysicist Dr Brad Tucker.

On May 28, 29, 31 and June 2 at noon, there will be a “Yeribee” tour at Parliament House, which will tell the stories of First Nations parliamentarians, explore the site history of Parliament House, gain insights into how First Nations Australians are participating in democratic processes, and show relevant works from the Parliament House Art Collection, including the Great Hall Tapestry, The Great Hall Embroidery, The Barunga Statement, The Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, The Yirrkala Bark Petitions and recent portraiture commissions.

All these are free events but bookings for the star-gazing event and the “Yeribee” tour are required here

Meantime, at the National Arboretum, Canberra’s Griffyn Ensemble will celebrate Reconciliation Day in a free concert called “Tracks”, tracing Ngunnawal songlines and dreaming tracks on  Monday from 12.30pm as part of a larger free concert on the Terrace Lawns between Arboretum Village Centre and Margaret Whitlam Pavilion running from 10.10am.

The ensemble will take a birds-eye view from Canberra to Weereewa (Lake George), guided by Ngunnawal custodian Richie Allan, weaving film, live music, poetry, and storytelling together to map this land.

Michael and Kiri Sollis, from Griffyn Ensemble, will be joined by accordionist Emily-Rose Šárkova, cellist Rachel Johnston and poets Lizz Murphy, Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, and Jen Webb.