A thread to discuss the importance or significance of Welcome to Country and the current impact that is has on modern Australia.
@JPA You were forming a post last in the AFL thread, please continue on.
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Right - Iāll start.
I believe the Welcome to Country has an important place in our modern day society and culture. I believe that there should a short Welcome to the lands from the traditional owners at the start of major events (sports, parliament events etc).
What the issue is when they add stuff on to make it longer - if it becomes too long, then it loses itās relevance, which is what I think many people have these days. Sometimes, something short and brief can just be as powerful.
I hope that makes sense. Iām not suggesting not have a discussion about history, where customs originate etc - itās important that we have these discussions, but there is a time and a place. What a welcome to country should be is a welcome to the traditional lands by the owners.
I donāt think anyone is intentionally being racist - but I think when it takes too long, or they include stuff which may not exactly be on topic, then people start to see it in a negative way.
As for last night, AFL should maybe have a discussion with the person about why they did it, or if they have an issue with it, just simply find someone else who can do it.
Hope that all makes sense @David?
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Yep, gotcha.
A short, snappy āWe respect the traditional land owners on which we gather onā¦ā
Kinda like that?
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Not exactly - a welcome to country is written by the traditional owners, and is about what the land means to them, and welcoming visitors to the land. It can also incorporate traditional singing, dancing or smoke ceremonies. However, in most cases (especially sporting events outside of Aboriginal themed rounds), itās a simple statement welcoming people to the lands by the traditional owners.
This example by Uncle Colin Hunter Jr, who also does the welcome to country at finals held at the MCG, is what I was talking about:
While this one by Mickey OāBrien (also does the Adelaide finals), while it does feature some talk about the tradition of a welcome to country, it mainly focuses on his traditional lands:
While what you have described above (and I donāt mean to offend you @David, as I know quite a few people who get the two confused) is an acknowledgement of country, and is done by someone not from the lands that they are meeting on. Itās usually a script done in association with the traditional owners, and a State/Territory Government department, for example, the script for the Acknowledgement of the Kaurna people (traditional owners of the Adelaide region):
We acknowledge this land that we meet on today is the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with their country.
We also acknowledge the Kaurna people as the custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Kaurna people today.
We also pay respects to the cultural authority of Aboriginal people visiting/attending from other areas of South Australia/Australia.
There can be slight differences from place to place, but itās generally the same format.
There is more information about the two, and the differences, along with examples from across SA, from the SA Governmentās Attorney-Generalās Department:
Apologies for the lengthy post @David, but I thought there was need to make sure that there is a distinction between a welcome to country, and an acknowledgement of country.
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Oops. Sorry!
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Nope itās all good - like I mentioned, many get the two confused with the other.
I do enjoy hearing what the owners have to say at the start of the finals, as I think it adds to the match, and is something that is unique to our sporting culture, however, for some of the stuff said last night, thereās a different place for that.
Iād be interested in hear your views though @David, even though youāve already touched on it in the AFL thread?
Iām neither here nor there. It doesnāt bother me if they do it or not. Iām not Aboriginal so I donāt need to be welcomed to another land.
I do understand those who are really against it though. Why should we be welcomed to our own country? However, after the explanation last night that itās not welcoming everyone to the country itās only welcoming other Aboriginal peoples to different countries other than their own land, then that explanation should now remove that anger.
I do think though there is a much larger issue at play here.
It appears to me itās actually white people who are the cause of the drama. You donāt actually see Aboriginal people getting upset and defensive when people openly say they donāt want Welcome to Country. Seems to me itās white people sticking their nose in business that isnāt their own.
Pretty much the same as the Change the Date debate. Itās all white people leading the charge as if theyāre defending or sticking up for Aboriginal people. You hardly see one Aboriginal person involved. Then itās all forgotten on the 27th January until the next year. They do not need white people to fight their battles. White men trying to make themselves feel better or something.
A band wagon for white people to jump on in the moment for a cause they really donāt care about. Just an excuse to complain and become violent as weāve seen in Melbourne last week.
So yeah thatās my honest opinion.
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Fair enough. It does seem like white people mainly leading the debate. Although, should be noted that Aboriginal People have been protesting January 26 since before it was even a national public holiday, however, like you mentioned before, it seems that Non-Aboriginalās are making more noise about it, which is drowning out the Aboriginal peopleās voices.
However, I respect that you are allowed to have your own opinion, and I do agree with you on much of what you have said.
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I just think if itās such an important issue and really is that offensive why only fight it for one week in January? Itās just such an opportunistic debate. Something to whinge about.
Why arenāt their protests every month of the year? Voices every week? Literally the day after Australia Day, radio silence. Canāt be that important then can it?
If I was wanting to fight so hard for a cause I wouldnāt just stop. You keep fighting donāt you? Itās just interesting to me this particular debate literally ends the next day until the following year when people are like oh yeah that thing. Iām so offended!
You canāt deny this. Itās actual fact. No one is even thinking about changing the date in September are they?
This is why the date will never change because politicians know they just need to bite their way through that one week then everyone will forget about it.
Fair enough
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So in summary to the actual topic (lol), I have no issue with Welcome to Country. Not my business.
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What is the point of this thread other than to baitā¦?
The conversation originated in the AFL thread.
Sorry, I should have made that clear at the top.
Itās a conversation continued on regarding the Welcome to Country conducted at the AFL last night.
No worries but from experience most people who bring it up seem to be against it.
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Sure. It was @VictorianSun who started the conversation in the AFL thread and that obviously isnāt the right place for it so itās continuing on here.
I donāt think anyone on this site said they were against it - I think many said that when they make it go longer than it is needed by adding irrelevant talking points, then it loses itās relevance.
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Iām saying in general. Not just on here 
I havenāt really heard it get longer for cricket at least.
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Oh totally. Itās an extremely divisive topic of discussion.
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Fair enough - like I mentioned, the main media organisations making the most noise are the Daily Mail, and New Corp outlets.