Records left by early colonial settlers either failed to capture, or captured incompletely, the depth and sophistication of Aboriginal welcoming and diplomatic protocols. Much of what we know about welcoming protocols has been preserved, not through settler historical archives, but through Aboriginal oral practices, and the cultural custodianship of our elders. Which means today, when a Welcome to Country occurs, we not only continue traditions of relationship-building, of respect and reciprocity, we remember these practices are living acts of history, sovereignty and connection.
Last year while attending the Dhuluny Corroboree, an event to mark the date martial law was declared on my own Wiradjuri lands 200 years prior, I stood in the truth that our traditions are not museum displays. They are living acts of survival. Through song, dance, storytelling, and ceremonial gatherings our ancestors welcomed, guided, protected, and governed movement across Country. This continues today through the practice of Welcome to Country.
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A Welcome to Country does not take anything away from Australia or Australians. It does nothing to divide us, in fact, I would argue it unites us, and is something that recognises that every one of us, whatever our relationship to the land we are on, has responsibilities and relationships to maintain.
Instead of taking offence when a Welcome to Country takes place, Australians should pause and reflect on the offering for what it truly is: one of the oldest traditions practised across Australia, and one deeply important to the people whose specific Country you are on. It is not a political statement, and it is not about exclusion. It is actually an inclusive protocol, as simple and profound as removing a hat in respect, standing silently for an anthem, or lowering one’s voice in a place of sacredness.
A Welcome to Country connects all Australians to a heritage that stretches across countless generations. It is a living tradition that should be embraced as a powerful and unifying part of our culture today. It deserves to be understood, respected, and honoured, not just on Anzac Day but every day.
Jessa Rogers is Associate Professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne.
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