Page 5 Aboriginal Cultural Competence ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY An Acknowledgement is done at the beginning of an event when there is no local Aboriginal Elder (Traditional Owner) present to give a Welcome. This is often done by the event MC. 1. All Australian events without a Welcome from the local Elder should include an Acknowledgement. 2. It’s important and sacred: don’t trivialise it. It would be like doing so for the Last Post or the Lord’s Prayer. 3. The Acknowledgement should be the very FIRST thing in the program, before everything else. Everything else (introductions, MC Welcome, sponsor names, OHS info … everything) should come afterwards. 4. When Acknowledging Country, you need to know and be able to correctly pronounce the name of the Aboriginal Nation you are on. If you are in Perth, it is Noongar Whadjuk Country and the rest of South West WA are other Noongar nations. If unsure, please check beforehand. 5. There is no set wording for an Acknowledgement of Country, though often a statement may take the following forms. You might say something like: 6. Aboriginal cultures value storytelling and many encourage non-Aboriginal people to include a brief personal story as part of an Acknowledgement. You can also make a brief comment, linking Aboriginal culture to the purpose of the event. “Before we start, I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present.” “I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today, the (people) of the (nation) and pay my respects to Elders past and present.” “We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging and extend a warm welcome to any Aboriginal people who are joining us for this session today.” “I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we <gather/meet> today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present.” “I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. I pay my respects to them and their cultures; and to Elders past and present.”
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