Page 19 Aboriginal Cultural Competence WHITEFELLA WAY ABORIGINAL WAY Key community decision makers Usually an appointed, selected or elected position holder eg:manager, board members. People of any age can be in positions of authority, based on education, experience and opportunity. People can lose their authority if they lose their position. Elders are the key community decision makers and are considered custodians of knowledge and lore. Once someone is an Elder, they are always an Elder. Shared resources A person’s money and possessions belong to them and beyond providing for dependants there are no cultural sharing obligations. People may have cultural obligations to share what they have with family. So if someone is the only person in a family with a good income, a car or a house, they may be expected to share these with many relatives. Your workplace needs to be welcoming and culturally secure from the front door onwards. It can take a great deal of personal courage for some people to walk through the door as a new staff member or client, so we need to ensure the environment is welcoming. A great way to make people feel welcome is to ensure you include a Welcome or Acknowledgement of Country at all events and staff meetings. It is also thoughtful to learn a few words of the staff member or client’s own language. Some words to use with Noongar speakers are: • Kaya: hello • Boodja: country (eg: Noongar Boodja is Noongar Country) • Wanju: welcome • Yanga: thank you • Boorda: goodbye Making people comfortable Engaging with Aboriginal people The following may apply to working with Aboriginal staff and/or clients:
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