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We acknowledge that we are meeting today on the lands of the [insert Traditional Owners name] people and we wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Custodians.
We acknowledge the richness, diversity, and sophistication of the cultures of First Nation peoples.
We acknowledge with sorrow the wrongs of the past that have taken place and continue into today.
We pay deep respects to Elders past and present and honour the strong leadership that is evident in the emerging Elders of tomorrow.
We hope to partner together and work to build a more just and compassionate society for the Traditional Owners of this land.
- This information can be printed by downloading the Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners Guide.
- This information was sourced from the Aboriginal Victoria website.
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A Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners recognises the continuing connection of Aboriginal Traditional Owners to their Country. Victoria has a strong and proud Aboriginal history, comprising of complex ownership and land stewardship systems stretching back many thousands of years.
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For Society meetings, an Acknowledgement of Country should occur and be listed as an Agenda item at the start of the meeting. The Prayer of Reconciliation can also be used at the start of meetings in addition to the Acknowledgement of Country.
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A Welcome to Country ceremony is performed by Aboriginal Traditional Owners for people visiting their Country. These ceremonies vary from speeches of welcome to traditional dance and smoking ceremonies.
An Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners can be done by anyone and is a way of showing awareness of, and respect for, the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the land on which a meeting or event is being held.
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The easiest way to find out who the Formally Recognised Traditional Owners are for an area is to consult the interactive map.
If the Traditional Owners have not been formally recognised for the land on which your event is taking place, you should acknowledge Traditional Owners generally, without making a reference to the name of any specific Traditional Owners. An example of such an acknowledgement is provided below:
'I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are meeting. I pay my respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.'
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