First Nations People are the proud custodians of the land that we live on and keepers of one of the oldest continuing cultures on the planet.
Since the European invasion in 1788, they have fought for their rights, including the right to make decisions for their families, community, and their Country.
At Amnesty, our work today includes calling for Indigenous Justice, like advocating for investments into Indigenous-led, community-driven solutions that keep children safe, connected and strong in culture, not behind bars.
Embedding Welcome and Acknowledgement protocols into meetings and events is one way we can celebrate First Nations cultures and combat the damaging racism and exclusion First Nations peoples continue to experience.
What is a Welcome to Country ceremony?
Welcome to Country ceremonies are among the oldest cultural ceremonies on earth and have been practised continuously on the land now known as Australia for tens of thousands of years.
Delivered by Elders, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have permission from Elders, it is a profound act of generosity and reconciliation for Aboriginal Elders to perform Welcome to Country ceremonies at public events, offering a blessing and extended hand for those gathering on their traditional lands.
“A Welcome to Country is a cultural protocol that First Nations communities have been conducting for thousands of years, as an act of reciprocity when other mobs travelled to visit their homelands.
Our Elders have fought hard to have this respectful ceremony inserted as a cultural norm in Australian society, and we all should be standing up to protect this advancement, and not let Indigenous Rights be wound back in this country.”
– Rach McPhail, Gomeroi woman, Amnesty International Australia’s Indigenous Rights Campaign Organiser
“Being welcomed to Country means that you are talking to your spiritual ancestors and you’re saying just let this person come through. We trust that they’re not going to do any harm on this Country and so do not harm them.”
Jude Barlow, Ngunnawal Elder.1
These protocols have since been adapted, and today can take many forms including singing, dancing, smoking ceremonies, and/or a speech, occurring at the beginning of a formal event.
What is an Acknowledgement of Country?
Unlike Welcome to Country ceremonies which are delivered by Traditional Owners, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have permission from Traditional Owners, an Acknowledgement of Country can be offered by anyone to show awareness and respect for the Traditional Custodians of the land upon which a meeting or event is taking place.
Acknowledging Country is a reciprocal act. We acknowledge the Custodians of the Country, the care that they provide for this place, and our promise to follow the cultural protocol of also looking after Country whilst we are visiting.
While there are suggested wordings to help guide your Acknowledgement of Country, there is no official script. They should be sincere, offering your recognition and respect for the Country you are acknowledging.
For more information on Traditional Owners across the continent, a great starting point is the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia. As the disclaimer on the map states, it was never intended to be accurate. Be sure to do your own research to find out what the local First Nations community call a place.
You could do an online search to find an informative website created by Traditional Owners (such as the Local Aboriginal Lands Council or cultural tour organisation) or reach out to a local Elders group or Aboriginal organisation to check.
The distinction between ‘country’ and ‘Country’
Country has many different meanings for First Nations peoples but at its essence, is a word used to refer to the lands, waterways and skies to which First Nations peoples are connected through ancestral ties and family origins.2
It embodies the complex ideals of law, place, customs, languages, spiritual beliefs, family and identity. It is a proper noun and therefore capitalised.
“When we talk about traditional ‘Country’…we mean something beyond the dictionary definition of the word. …we might mean homeland, or tribal or clan area and we might mean more than just a place on the map.
Professor Mick Dodson, Yawuru man and Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Human Rights Commission
“When we talk about traditional ‘Country’…we mean something beyond the dictionary definition of the word. …we might mean homeland, or tribal or clan area and we might mean more than just a place on the map.
For us, Country is a word for all the values, places, resources, stories and cultural obligations associated with that area and its features. It describes the entirety of our ancestral domains. While they may all no longer necessarily be the title-holders to land, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are still connected to the Country of their ancestors and most consider themselves the custodians or caretakers of their land.”
– Professor Mick Dodson, Yawuru man and Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Human Rights Commission
Thank you to Reconciliation Australia and Common Ground whose ongoing work and resources helped guide this piece on Welcome and Acknowledgement protocols.
Learn more
We have new tools and resources coming soon to help bring Indigenous Rights to life in your community. In the meantime, learn more about what being a First Nations Ally means, or download our First Nations Ally Guide.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about our work on Indigenous Justice.
1 – AIATSIS (2021). Welcome to Country. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
2 – Pol, G. (2021). What is Country? Common Ground.
