Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country
Understanding the difference between a Welcome to Country and an Acknowledgement of Country is a key part of recognising the Aboriginal and Torres Strait people as the custodians of their land. When recognition of the First Nations peoples, past, present and emerging occurs during gatherings and events, it signifies the connection between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait people with the land on which you are meeting.
Welcome to Country
Welcome to Country is a traditional custom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when welcoming outsiders onto their land and into their homes. Elders may include a smoking ceremony and/or smudging.
Jarraga can offer a Welcome to Country by local leaders as part of a workshop when on lands where this is culturally appropriate and attainable.
To find out more about the land on which you work or live contact us.
Acknowledgement of Country
An Acknowledgement to Country can be delivered where a Welcome to Country is unavailable.
When acknowledging the country on which you live/work/gather, it is important to use the traditional land and peoples names where possible.
An example of this would be:
“I would like to acknowledge the [traditional people name] people from the traditional lands on which we gather. We pay our respects to the their leaders past, present and emerging.”