Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country

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Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country are protocols used in Australia in relation to Aboriginal affairs.

A Welcome to Country ceremony is performed by a local Aboriginal person of significance to symbolise the Traditional Owners' giving blessing to an event taking place on the land.

The Acknowledgement of Country is usually a statement or a speech made by an Aboriginal or a non-Aboriginal to show respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land.

[edit] Format

The format of these protocols is subject to discussion with local Aboriginal groups and the organisation itself.

The Welcome to Country is performed usually by an Elder as the first item in the event. This symbolically welcomes participants and attendees to the land. The Welcome to Country can take the form of a speech or a performance.

NSW AECG Inc. suggests that the Acknowledgement of Country make take the form of: 'I would like to show my respect and Acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land, of Elders past and present, on which this meeting takes place.'