Acknowledgement / Welcome to Country

What is a Welcome to Country?

Only Tasmanian Aboriginal people welcome people to Tasmanian Aboriginal Land. It is highly disrespectful for anyone else to do so.

A Welcome to Country might involve:

• meaningful words from a Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder or Community person
• short history of the people and the area
• story telling and yarning
• singing and dancing
• smoking ceremony
• Aboriginal ceremony

This depends on who is giving the Welcome to Country, and to whom it will be given.

What is Country?

Tasmanian Aboriginal people have a distinctive and respectful connection to their lands waterways and seas, including all living beings on Country. They are the traditional owners and custodians with obligations and responsibilities to Country. When an Aboriginal person talks of ‘Country’; this encompasses the land, waterways and sea but also cultural practices, knowledges, and the cultural environment.

When should a Welcome to Country be given?

A Welcome to Country may be given at any event, conference, meeting or exhibition regardless of whether there is an Aboriginal focus or if there are Aboriginal people present.

How do I organise a Welcome to Country?

The Office of Aboriginal Affairs refers to Aboriginal organisations, Elders and Community members regarding a Welcome to Country, or an Acknowledgment of Country.

What is an Acknowledgement of Country?

An Acknowledgement of Country is respect and recognition of Tasmanian Aboriginal peoples’ survival and continual connection with the land spanning more than 40,000 years. An Acknowledgement of Country pays respect to Aboriginal people present.

When should an Acknowledgement of Country be given?

An Acknowledgment of Country can be given at an official opening, meeting, concert, school assembly, or other event. Any person can give an Acknowledgement of Country.

In the absence of a Welcome to country, an Acknowledgment of Country may be given; and it should be the first item on the agenda. Speakers also often Acknowledge Country as they speak for the first time (even though a Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country may have already been given).

Types of acknowledgement

• I acknowledge and pay respect to the elders that are here today, I acknowledge those who have passed before us and acknowledge Tasmanian Aboriginal people who are attending this event.

If no Aboriginal people are at the event, the following wording could be used:

• I acknowledge and pay respect to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people as the traditional and original owners, and continuing custodians of this land on which we gather today and acknowledge Elders – past, present and Tasmanian Aboriginal people.

A combination of these acknowledgments may also be used.

• For Nipaluna/Hobart: I pay respect to the traditional and original owners of this land the muwinina (mou wee nee nar) people, to pay respect to those that have passed before us and to acknowledge today’s Tasmanian Aboriginal people who are the custodians of this land.

Note: The muwinina people died at Colonisation. There are no descendants of the muwinina people. This is a strong point to make to the audience a deeper understanding of the impacts on Aboriginal people in Tasmania.

Resources

Guide for Acknowledgement and Welcome to Country

The Guide for Acknowledgement of Aboriginal People and Country and Welcome to Country (the Guide) has been designed as a tool for State Service agencies to develop consistent whole-of-Government practices that support all employees to know when, how and why they should consider an Acknowledgement of Aboriginal People and Country or a Welcome to Country ceremony.

For any additional information or assistance contact the Office of Aboriginal Affairs on the following contact details:

Phone: 03 6165 8366
Email: OAA@dpac.tas.gov.au