What is a Welcome to Country and do I need one?
You’ve probably been to a meeting or event that began with either a Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgment of Country.
Being an Adelaide-based business, most of the events that Keito manages occur on Kaurna land and the majority of our clients choose to incorporate some form of a Welcome to and Acknowledgements of Country into their proceedings.
Here, we’ll outline some of the most important aspects of Welcomes and Acknowledgements of Country and explain why it’s something you should be considering from the outset. Below, we’ve listed some of the resources we use when approaching this topic. We encourage you to read through them yourselves.
So, what is a Welcome to Country?
A Welcome to Country is a traditional protocol that is conducted by local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander elders with ancestral ties to the land. It’s a ceremony that has been an important part of Indigenous culture for thousands of years, and it allows visitors to be welcomed to Country by Traditional Land Owners, who grant them safe passage through their lands.
Today, although the practice has changed overtime, a Welcome to Country takes place at the start of a meeting or event and can take the form of speeches in the traditional language, speeches in English, singing, dancing or smoking ceremony.
And an Acknowledgement of Country?
An Acknowledgement of Country can be given by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people or non-Indigenous people. It serves as an opportunity to show respect for the Traditional Land Owners and their continuing connection to Country. An Acknowledgement of Country is usually delivered in a statement, such as:
I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present.
Why are Welcomes to and Acknowledgments of Country so important?
Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgments of Country are all about showing respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people upon whose land you are meeting. A Welcome to Country or Acknowledgment of Country is an important step in acknowledging the ancient customs of Australia’s first custodians, and the impact of colonialism on this past.
Making these Welcomes and acknowledgments of Country a regular component of all formal proceedings promotes relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, furthers awareness of Indigenous history and culture, and shows respect to Traditional Land Owners.
Does my event need to begin with a Welcome to Country?
A Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country should occur at the beginning of any formal proceeding, meeting or event. Board meetings, school assemblies, festivals, functions and forums are all examples of occasions that should begin with a Welcome to Country.
What do I need to consider when organising a Welcome to Country?
First and foremost, it is important to ensure that you are genuine in your desire to have a Welcome to Country. It is not enough to say the words without understanding their meaning. This can be a good opportunity to consider how your organisation or business may work with or impact local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
If you are arranging a Welcome to Country:
- Identify the Traditional Land Owners in your area
- Get in touch with them through a local Indigenous organisation or Aboriginal Land Council
- Ensure the Elder or community member who you are working with understands the event, is offered transport if necessary and is supplied with all the equipment they need to conduct the Welcome to Country.
- Organise payment before the event, as it is generally required
If you are organising an Acknowledgment of Country:
- Ensure you are thorough in your research as you prepare
- Identify the correct Traditional Owner group and endeavour to check that your pronunciations are correct
- Write your Acknowledgement of Country to touch on the purpose of your event
To learn more on the topic of Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country, we encourage you to check out the following resources and articles:
