Acknowledging Country
For important events in Australia it is now common, and best, practice to start with a ‘Welcome To Country’ or ‘Acknowledgement of Country’.
Below is some information published by ‘Reconciliation Australia’ about the difference between the two ‘welcomes’, when they should be used and by whom.
I have been pondering for a while about possible musical applications of the’ Acknowledgement of Country’, when, thank you universe, a beautiful and simple song is composed and shared by my friend Jemma King.
Jemma, like myself, is not Aboriginal but sings with the choir Madjitil Moorna. This is a choir in Perth, Western Australia, led by Aboriginal musicians and singer songwriters. It is all about the sharing and promotion of cultural understandings and preservation of local languages while being in a safe environment.
Jemma wrote this lovely song with the guidance and endorsement by Noongar Elder Marie Taylor, Noongar language custodian, Marinda Hansen, and Bibbulmum singer songwriter Della Rae Morrison.
This song is not a replacement for an ‘Acknowledgement to Country’. Rather it is a musical additional which could enhance the ceremony.
The song would be particularly appropriate after an ‘Acknowledgement’ for primary schools to perform at assemblies and formal events. It would also be appropriate for musical performances in any school.
This song can be used in any Aboriginal country in Australia. All that needs to change is the name of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander country that the land is being performed on. It is important to check this and get it right.
Acknowledging Country
©Jemma King 2018 with guidance from Marie Taylor, Merinda Hansen and Della Rae Morrison
Before singing, please clarify with the traditional custodians, the name of the country you are upon, and change lyrics accordingly.
We acknowledge the land on which we now stand
Has always been ___________ country
We pay our respect to elders past
Those present and those of the future
We acknowledge the land on which we now stand
Has always been ___________ country
We pay our respect to elders past
Those present and those of the future
For thousands and thousands of years
First Nations peoples have cared for our country
We pay our respect to the oldest continuous
living culture in the world
We acknowledge the land on which we now stand
Has always been __________ country
We pay our respect to elders past
Those present and those of the future
We acknowledge the land on which we now stand
Will always be ____________ country
Acknowledging Country
©Jemma King 2018 with guidance Marie Taylor, Merinda Hansen and Della Rae Morrison
Before singing, please clarify with the traditional custodians, the name of the country you are upon, and change lyrics accordingly.
Acknowledgement Song Resources
Below are some resources to go with the song. These have been provided through the generosity of Jemma King. When using these resources please ensure her work as the composer and the support of the Noongar community is shared with the audience, as we would for any other piece of work we are performing. Below Jemma has also permitted the sharing of mp3 files of the song and the chords.
Acknowledgement Song For Whadjuk Country
Acknowledgement Song For Unspecified Country
Here are the chords.
The Acknowledgment Song_Template_©Jemma King 2018 (4)-25iyqvt
I have used the lyrics of the song to create a welcome poster on the door of my music room combined with images of the ‘country’ near my school. You might do this too?
Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country
The following guidelines have been drawn from the website of ‘Reconciliation Australia’. Please check it out yourself and research any local protocols that may apply.
- What is a Welcome to Country?
Protocols for welcoming visitors to Country have been a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures for thousands of years. Despite the absence of fences or visible borders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups had clear boundaries separating their Country from that of other groups. Crossing into another group’s Country required a request for permission to enter. When permission was granted the hosting group would welcome the visitors, offering them safe passage and protection of their spiritual being during the journey. While visitors were provided with a safe passage, they also had to respect the protocols and rules of the land owner group while on their Country. Today, obviously much has changed, and these protocols have been adapted to contemporary circumstances. However, the essential elements of welcoming visitors and offering safe passage remain in place. A Welcome to Country occurs at the beginning of a formal event and can take many forms including singing, dancing, smoking ceremonies or a speech in traditional language or English. A Welcome to Country is delivered by Traditional Owners, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been given permission from Traditional Owners, to welcome visitors to their Country.
- What is an Acknowledgment of Country?
An Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity for anyone to show respect for Traditional Owners and the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country. It can be given by both non-Indigenous people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. There are no set protocols or wording for an Acknowledgement of Country, though often a statement may take the following forms. General: I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present. Specific: I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today, the (people) of the (nation) and pay my respects to Elders past and present. Similar to a Welcome to Country, an Acknowledgement of Country is generally offered at the beginning of a meeting, speech or formal occasion.
- Why are Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country important?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have experienced a long history of exclusion from Australian history books, the Australian flag, the Australian anthem and for many years, Australian democracy. This history of dispossession and colonisation lies at the heart of the disparity between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians today. Including recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in events, meetings and national symbols is one part of ending the exclusion that has been so damaging. Incorporating welcoming and acknowledgement protocols into official meetings and events recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of land. It promotes an ongoing connection to place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and shows respect for Traditional Owners. In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, the meaning of Country is more than just ownership or connection to land, as Professor Mick Dodson explains: “When we talk about traditional ‘Country’…we mean something beyond the dictionary definition of the word. For Aboriginal Australians…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.”
References:
Jemma King – Acknowledgement Song mp3 files and lyrics documents, 2018.