When it comes to the question of why Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country are important, I think it can be summed up like this:
Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country are the most relevant traditional custom for the modern Australian workplace.
You can further break this single question into two separate parts that need to be addressed to understand more fully. These questions are:
1. Why are Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country important to Aboriginal people?
And,
2. What are Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country important for your Aboriginal employment plans?
So, let’s take a quick look at each of these questions.
1. Why are Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country important to Aboriginal people?
A Welcome to Country or an Acknowledgement of Country is your opportunity to participate in an ancient custom from the oldest living culture in the world. What we know as Acknowledgements and Welcomes today are modern takes on a traditional custom. I would say they're the most relevant traditional custom for today's workplace.
In traditional times, it was unacceptable to set foot on another nation's country without permission. If you were travelling to visit another nation, or just passing through, you would wait on the border to be invited onto the lands or be granted safe passage. When the custodians arrived to greet you, they would perform a traditional Welcome to Country. Then, in response, you would acknowledge their custodianship of the lands.
Today, it's a mark of respect to traditional custodians, and recognises their place as original inhabitants and custodians of the land. It's a chance to acknowledge the past and continuing connection local Aboriginal people have with country. This connection and knowledge is still an important part of Aboriginal peoples’ lives and cultures today.
Whose lands do you acknowledge in your workplace?
Who are the traditional custodians where you live and work?
2. Why are Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country important to your Aboriginal employment plans?
If you want to attract Aboriginal people to work with you, it's imperative that you have a reputation as respecting and welcoming Aboriginal people and their cultures.
If you want to keep your best Aboriginal staff, a workplace that respects and values Aboriginal people and their cultures is your best asset. Without respect, why would we stay?
A simple way to demonstrate your respect is through Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country. Welcomes and Acknowledgements are strong signals that Aboriginal people are welcomed and respected within your workplace.
This ancient ceremony recognising traditional country is an important aspect of Aboriginal cultures. Acknowledging country at appropriate times and events signals to your employees, managers and everyone present that inclusion of Aboriginal people is important to your organisation - and if you're trying to increase the number of Aboriginal staff that's an important message.
Imagine for a moment that an Aboriginal person is attending an event hosted by your organisation. What message is given when a Welcome or Acknowledgement is given? And equally important, what message is given when it isn’t?
If you’d like to learn more you can download my Quick Workplace Guide to Welcomes to Country and Acknowledgements of Country by clicking the button below.
