Lexi Webster
Acknowledgement of Country is a way to show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land on which an event or meeting is held. It is often expressed at the beginning of a meeting, speech, or event and can be adapted to different contexts. The term country is significant to many Aboriginal peoples, representing an interdependent relationship between a people and their ancestral lands and seas. The Acknowledgement of Country is a more recent development, associated with the reconciliation movement and the creation of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR). It is now incorporated into many official meetings and events across Australia, including the ceremonial opening of the Parliament of Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can offer an Acknowledgement of Country | Any person or organisation |
| When is it given | At the beginning of a meeting, speech or event |
| Where is it expressed | Email signature blocks, websites, social media, plaques, signs, etc. |
| What does it recognise | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia |
| What does it do | Pays respect to Elders past and present, their cultures, and their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to the lands, waters, seas, skies, and communities |
| What is the purpose | To show respect and awareness of the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land on which a meeting or event is being held |
| What is the history | It is a more recent development, associated with the Keating government of the 1990s, the reconciliation movement, and the creation of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation |
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What You'll Learn
The meaning of 'Country'
In the context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia, the term "Country" holds a unique and significant meaning that goes beyond the dictionary definition of the word. When referring to "Country," these Indigenous peoples are not referring to the nation of Australia as a whole but are instead signifying their deep connection to their traditional homelands and the values, stories, and cultural obligations associated with those lands.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, "Country" represents their ancestral domains and signifies a strong sense of self-identity. It encompasses their family origins and associations with specific parts of Australia, often referred to as their "own Country." This connection to "Country" is deeply rooted in their history and culture, with their ancestors having inhabited the Australian continent for around 60,000 years. During this long history, they developed one of the oldest living cultures in the world, with 250 distinct languages spoken by the time of British settlement.
The concept of "Country" is intricately linked to the Indigenous worldview and belief system. It implies an interdependent and reciprocal relationship between an individual and the lands and seas of their ancestors. This relationship is sustained and enhanced by their living environment and cultural knowledge. "Caring for Country" is a term commonly used in the Indigenous context, signifying the importance of ecological and spiritual health in their connection to the land. This care extends beyond physical maintenance to include spiritual and ancestral respect for the land, as if it were a family member.
The acknowledgement of "Country" is a way to show respect for the Traditional Owners of the land and to recognise the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to their "Country." This acknowledgement can be done by anyone and is often incorporated into meetings, events, and official communications. It serves as a reminder that we live, work, and dream on the lands of these Traditional Owners, and it contributes to ending the exclusion and marginalisation that these Indigenous peoples have historically faced in Australian society.
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Who can give an Acknowledgement of Country
An Acknowledgement of Country is a way of showing respect and awareness of the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land on which a meeting or event is held. It is usually given at the beginning of a meeting, speech or event. Importantly, an Acknowledgement of Country can be offered by anyone.
It is important to note that the Acknowledgement of Country is different from a Welcome to Country. Protocols for welcoming visitors to Country have always been a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Boundaries were clear, and crossing into another group’s Country required a request for permission to enter.
In areas where Traditional Owners have not been formally recognised, it is important that the Acknowledgement pays respect to the Traditional Owners of the land in general, rather than a specific group. This is because, in some areas, the further work required to identify and recognise specific Traditional Owners is still ongoing.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may also acknowledge their own mob/s and other First Nations peoples present. An Acknowledgement of Country can also be expressed on behalf of an organisation in different forms of communication, such as email signatures, websites, and social media.
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When to give an Acknowledgement of Country
An Acknowledgement of Country is a way to recognise that a meeting or event is taking place on the lands of First Nations peoples. It is an important way to show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and their long-standing traditions and protocols.
An Acknowledgement of Country is typically given at the beginning of a meeting, speech, or event. It can be adapted to reflect the context and is often used to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land and pay respect to Elders past and present. For example, an author might acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the land's first storytellers, or a scientist might acknowledge the contributions and sophistication of First Nations knowledge.
The Acknowledgement of Country can also be used in other forms of communication, such as email signatures, websites, and social media. It is important to be sincere and, if possible, do some research on the Country being acknowledged. There is no specific wording that must be used, but it is important to recognise the Traditional Owners and their ongoing connection to the land.
The Acknowledgement of Country is different from a Welcome to Country, which is a formal ceremony typically conducted by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Elder at official events, major public forums, and functions. The Welcome to Country ceremony should occur at the very beginning of an event and may include a speech, song, traditional dance, performance, or smoking ceremony.
It is recommended that community figures, particularly non-Aboriginal people, take every opportunity to participate in and celebrate these rituals, as they demonstrate respect for Aboriginal culture and show that their traditions and protocols are living and enduring.
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What to say in an Acknowledgement of Country
An Acknowledgement of Country is a formal recognition of the First Nations people's custodianship of the land and a show of respect for their cultures and traditions. It is a way of showing awareness of, and respect for, the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land on which a meeting or event is held. It can be offered by any person and is usually given at the beginning of a meeting, speech or event.
When writing an Acknowledgement of Country, it is important to specify and describe the Country you are on. Pay respect to the Elders who have cared for the natural features of the land, such as mountains, rivers, seas and skies. Always name the Mob in the Acknowledgement and, if the land is contested, name all Mobs. Use traditional names for significant areas that are important to the local Aboriginal community, instead of English names.
If the Traditional Owners have not been formally recognised, you should acknowledge Traditional Owners in general, without referencing a specific group. For example, "I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are meeting. I pay my respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today."
You can adapt and expand your Acknowledgement of Country to reflect different contexts. For instance, an author might acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the land's first storytellers, or a meeting of scientists might acknowledge the contributions and sophistication of First Nations knowledge.
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The history of Acknowledgement of Country
From 1788, when the British colonised the land that became Australia, welcomes and acknowledgements took on a new political form, but they were not customary. In the 1970s, the tradition was associated with Indigenous political movements. In 1978, Richard Walley and Ernie Dingo of the Middar Aboriginal theatre company were asked by a group of Polynesian performers to give them a Welcome to Country. In the 1990s, the Keating government, the reconciliation movement, and the creation of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) with Yawuru man Pat Dodson as chair, further encouraged the practice.
After the Mabo case, in which the historical fiction of terra nullius was overturned and native titles were recognised in Australia, the Acknowledgement of Country grew among "grassroots communities concerned with issues of reconciliation", according to Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung man Tiriki Onus. Wiradjuri woman Linda Burney, a member of CAR at the time, said that there was no formal strategy to bring the Acknowledgement of Country into Australian life, but it grew organically and became accepted as part of many types of gatherings.
Since then, Acknowledgements of Country have become a core Australian custom, incorporated into the openings of meetings and other events across Australia, by all levels of government, universities, community groups, and other organisations. It is a way of showing awareness of, and respect for, the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land on which a meeting or event is being held. It can be expressed by any person or organisation, at the beginning of a meeting, speech, or event, and can be adapted and expanded to reflect different contexts.
However, these acknowledgements have also attracted criticism from conservative politicians, historians, and commentators, who suggest that such ceremonies are a form of tokenism and do not reflect traditional Aboriginal culture.
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Frequently asked questions
An Acknowledgement of Country is a way of showing awareness of and respect for the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land on which a meeting or event is being held.
An Acknowledgement of Country can be offered by any person or organisation.
An Acknowledgement of Country is given at the beginning of a meeting, speech or event.
An Acknowledgement of Country can be expressed in different forms of communication, such as email signatures, websites, and on social media. It can be adapted and expanded to reflect different contexts.
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