Acknowledgment of Country
An Acknowledgment of Country is a way of demonstrating awareness of and respect for Aboriginal protocols and for the Aboriginal people on whose land an occasion is being held. Any individual can perform an Acknowledgment of Country, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal.
It may be appropriate to incorporate an Acknowledgement of Country at events such as board and staff meetings, small training or information sessions, and other small events, for example.
Below are three examples of Acknowledgments of Country that can be used on Noongar land provided by the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council;
“I/We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on, the Whadjuk (Perth region) people. I/We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.”
“I/We would like to acknowledge that this meeting is being held on the traditional lands of the Noongar people."
“I/We would like to acknowledge that this meeting is being held on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Noongar people in this land.”
Acknowledgements can also be in written form. For example, WAAMH has an Acknowledgement of Country on its website (in the footer of each webpage) and has also included the Acknowledgement in email signatures.
The Reconciliation Australia website is another example. It displays the following statement;
“Reconciliation Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.”