Acknowledgement & Welcome to Country
Incorporating a Welcome or Acknowledgement into events, official meetings, functions and other special occasions is a mark of respect that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Australians and custodians of their land.
It promotes an awareness of the past and an ongoing connection to place and Country.
Welcome to Country
A Welcome to Country is where an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island traditional owner, custodian or Elder welcomes people to their Land.
Protocols for welcoming visitors to Country have been part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures for thousands of years. The Welcome to Country always occurs at the opening of an event and is usually the first item on the program.
The Welcome can be done through a speech, song, dance ceremony or combination of these.
Acknowledgement of Country
Everybody is able to deliver an Acknowledgement of Country.
An Acknowledgement of Country is a way of showing respect and awareness of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional custodians of the land on which a meeting or event is being held, and of recognising the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to their Country.
There are no set protocols or wording for an Acknowledgement of Country, however a statement may often take the following form:
"I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today, the _______ people (if known) and pay my respects to Elders past, present and future. I would also like to acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who now reside in this area, and who are present here today."