Welcome to Country ceremonies have been in the news this past week after an Indigenous elder was booed during Melbourne’s Anzac Day Dawn Service and opposition leader Peter Dutton said they were “overdone”.
We asked Aboriginal Connections, Liaison & Awareness Officer Tim White, who is a proud Wiradjuri man, to explain the significance of Welcome to Country and why it’s different to Acknowledgement of Country.
Here’s what he had to say:
“To me, a Welcome to Country is spiritual, a sign of respect to its peoples and Mother Land, the land that provides for us, the land we all live and grow old on.
“A Welcome to Country is conducted by a traditional custodian of the land, during special events. Welcoming people to Country has been part of Aboriginal culture for many thousands of years. It gives safe passage to all people who pass through and live on the land. It is inclusive of all people, welcoming them to join us on this beautiful land and country.
“Acknowledgement of Country is not the same as a Welcome to Country. An Acknowledgement of Country can be conducted by anyone and is a sign of respect to the traditional custodians of the land. When Acknowledgement to Country is conducted it is a sign of respect and understanding to reconciliation within Australia – respecting the past and present, moving into the future together as one nation.
“The importance of both go deeper than we know. It is connecting people together and to the lands that we all know as home.”
As an organisation committed to reconciliation and walking with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, we invite you to “yarn with Tim”.
Got a question for Tim? Send it to aboriginalconnections@melbasupport.com.au and we’ll publish the answer.
We’ve also asked Tim to share his thoughts and perspective as events happen to foster education and meaningful communication
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