This is an important way that the wider community can show respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols, and acknowledge the ongoing relationships between the traditional owners and the spiritual and cultural practices of the local area. It is a significant and symbolic reconciliation gesture.
An Acknowledgment of Country is used for small functions or when traditional custodians are not available to provide an official Welcome to Country. It recognises that the event is happening on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Country/Place, thanks the custodians for allowing the event to take place and sets a respectful tone for the event.
Download video
Video transcript
Warning slide
QCAA respectfully advises Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples that this video may contain names, images or voices of people who are deceased. We acknowledge that in some communities it is distressing and offensive to mention names and to show images of people who have died.
An Acknowledgment of Country
Kerri Wenitong
Senior Project Officer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Reconciliation Australia defines an Acknowledgement of Country as a way of showing awareness of and respect for the traditional Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander owners 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.
What is an Acknowledgment of Country?
Flo Watson
Wulgurukaba, Gunggandji and Western Yalanji Elder
It’s acknowledging the Elders past and present and it is also acknowledging the ancestors that have gone before us.
Why should we acknowledge Country?
Flo Watson
Wulgurukaba, Gunggandji and Western Yalanji Elder
We are very spiritual, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, very spiritual people. As Ann was saying, respect, responsibility and relationships are the basis of our culture. It is all about respect, so we acknowledge. We respect the Elders, we respect the Country we are on, so we acknowledge that Country that we are on.
Kerri Wenitong
Senior Project Officer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
We acknowledge Country and Place to develop shared respect for the land beneath our feet, pay respect to the people who are traditional owners and custodians of the land; pay respect to the Elders past, present; and emerging, and acknowledge the ancestors that have come before us.
We acknowledge Country and Place to develop shared responsibility for the environment.
By acknowledging Country we demonstrate the value of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples ways of knowing and working to continue building positive relationships within local communities.
Also by acknowledging the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples throughout Australia we foster reciprocal relationships in the spirit of reconciliation.
Who can deliver an Acknowledgement of Country?
Flo Watson
Wulgurukaba, Gunggandji and Western Yalanji Elder
In schools it can be done by teachers, principals and students.
Ann Aspinall
Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi Elder
We would like the kids to do it in the schools.
Kerri Wenitong
Senior Project Officer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
The person holding the meeting should acknowledge Country and acknowledge the traditional owners, custodians and Elders, if present. School students can learn and be encouraged to deliver Acknowledgements of Country.
It is appropriate to give an Acknowledgment of Country at the start of a meeting or daily proceedings. Often individuals involved in speaking throughout a day or within meetings will also provide a personal Acknowledgment of Country.
The Queensland Government encourages managers, education officers, executives, committee chairs, community leaders and individuals to include relevant acknowledgments in speeches they make at public meetings and forums.
Developing an Acknowledgment of Country
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people from the wider community can provide advice on when to use a Welcome to Country and when to use an Acknowledgment of Country.
As an effect of dispossession, in some parts of Queensland there are disputes about custodial ownership. These issues are the business of the Aboriginal communities and Torres Strait Islander communities involved. In such cases, the traditional owners of the land are acknowledged without naming those peoples specifically. Acknowledging Country in this way will not cause offence where there is some potential or actual dispute around traditional ownership.
An Acknowledgment of Country is both a personal and professional protocol. Developing an Acknowledgment of Country may take time. It should reflect a personal approach and not just an organisational directive.
Reconciliation Australia states that there are no set protocols or wording for an Acknowledgement of Country, though often a statement may take one of the following forms:
- General: ‘I’d like to begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present.’
- Specific: ‘Thanks to (name of person who gave the Welcome to Country) for (his/her) welcome. Let’s pause again now to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land where we meet today, the (people) of the (nation) and pay our respects to Elders past and present.’
- Example for central Brisbane: ‘Before I begin, let’s pause to reflect on the fact that we are meeting on custodial land of the oldest living civilisation in the world. This is a contested space, so I pay my respects to both the Jagera people and the Turrbul people and their Elders, past, present and emerging, for they hold the hopes, dreams, traditions and cultures of Aboriginal Australia.’
Over time, individuals will develop their own preferred style and approach to Acknowledgment of Country, and this will change depending on the context and place of the event or meeting.
More information
- Relationships to Country/Place
- There are lots of examples on the Creative Spirits website
- Examples of acknowledgements of country in early childhood educational settings.
- Last updated:
- 25 July 2018
