Acknowledgement of Country protocol

Printable version: BTS Acknowledgement of Country Protocol (PDF)

Preamble

A Welcome to Country can only be given by Tasmanian Aboriginal people. It is disrespectful for anyone else to do so.

An Acknowledgement of Country shows respect and recognition of Tasmanian Aboriginal peoples’ survival and continual connection with the land spanning more than 40,000 years.

An Acknowledgement of Country can be given by anyone and should be the first item on the agenda at an official opening, meeting, or other event.

Clubs have discretion whether to deliver an Acknowledgement of Country or not, but if they choose to do so, these standardised words should be used.

General Acknowledgement

A general Acknowledgement of Country that could be used at any Bowls Club in Tasmania is:

I acknowledge and pay respect to the Tasmanian Aboriginal people as the traditional and original owners, and continuing custodians, of this land on which we gather today and acknowledge elders – past and present – and Tasmanian people.

Hobart Clubs

This Acknowledgement of Country is specific to the Nipaluna/Hobart area:

I pay respect to the traditional and original owners of this land – the muwinina (mou-wee-nee-nar) people – to pay respect to those that have passed before us and to acknowledge today’s Tasmanian Aboriginal people who are custodians of this land.

Clubs outside the Nipaluna/Hobart area may use the general acknowledgement above or research and use an Acknowledgement of Country for the area specific to their Club.

Resources

https://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/cpp/aboriginal-partnerships/acknowledgement-welcome-to-country