RECOGNISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND WELCOME TO COUNTRY PROTOCOL

INTERNAL GUIDE FOR AFL QUEENSLAND EMPLOYEES

AFL’s Indigenous Framework and Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) sets our vision for an inclusive AFL community built on mutual respect, real opportunities and strong relationships with Indigenous Australians to drive positive, lasting change.

It sets our commitment to improve participation, build partnerships, create employment opportunities and recognise, acknowledge and celebrate Indigenous culture.

An important aspect of this recognition is the acknowledgement of traditional custodians and Elders at events, forums, public functions and in public documents.

A Welcome to Country ceremony or Acknowledgement of Country provides an opportunity to show respect and pay recognition of living cultural protocols practiced today.

AFL QUEENSLAND RECOGNISES AND ACKNOWLEDGES ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS ARE AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PEOPLES AND THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND CUSTODIANS OF AUSTRALIAN LANDS AND WATERS

THE USE OF APPROPRIATE PROTOCOLS AND CEREMONIES IS A POWERFUL MEANS OF PROMOTING GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF ABORIGINAL CULTURE IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY.

THE PROCESS DESCRIBED IN THIS PAPER CAN BE USED BY EMPLOYEES AS A GUIDE TO RESPECTFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND AT MEETINGS AND EVENTS AND DESCRIBES WHEN A LOCAL ELDER SHOULD BE CONSULTED ABOUT HOLDING A TRADITIONAL WELCOME TO COUNTRY CEREMONY.

RECOGNISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND WELCOME TO COUNTRY PROTOCOL

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRYWhen should we acknowledge traditional owners and custodians?

• Public speeches • Special functions; and• Large meetings and forums • AFL Queensland-run affiliate conferences• Coaching courses

Who should perform the acknowledgement?

• Performed by the first speaker at a public forum, function or event – each speaker may then acknowledge the traditional owners if they choose

• MC and other keynote speakers

How should traditional owners and custodians be acknowledged?

There are two options recommended for AFLQ staff and affiliates:

1. General acknowledgement

“I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND CUSTODIANS OF THE LAND ON WHICH WE MEET TODAY AND PAY MY RESPECTS TO THE ELDERS PAST AND PRESENT. THE AFL VALUES AND OUR COMMITTED PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES RESPECTS THE PROTOCOLS, HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF ALL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.”

“I ACKNOWLEDGE WE ARE MEETING TODAY ON THE TRADITIONAL LANDS OF THE (INSERT APPROPRIATE NAME OF PEOPLE). I PAY MY RESPECTS TO THE ELDERS PAST AND PRESENT. THE AFL VALUES AND OUR COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES RESPECTS THE PROTOCOLS, HERITAGE AND CULTURE OF ALL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.”

2. Acknowledgement specific to location and community

RECOGNISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND WELCOME TO COUNTRY PROTOCOL

In searching for traditional owners and custodians correct name you may wish to seek advice from:

• Aboriginal Land Councils • AIATSIS; and• Local government • State/local community organisations

who can provide information on who the traditional owner group/s are in your requested area

• State Department of Aboriginal Affairs

2. WELCOME TO COUNTRY CEREMONYWhat is a Welcome to Country ceremony?

In the past Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities would perform a welcoming ceremony for people visiting their country.

This ceremony varied from speeches to traditional dance and smoking ceremonies; and is a practice that continues today. Welcome to Countries is a cultural service and involve a fee.

When should we organise a Welcome to Country?

• STATE GRAND FINALS• AFL QUEENSLAND MAJOR

EVENTS AND FUNCTIONS

• MATCHES DURING INDIGENOUS ROUND

• OPENING OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Who should perform a Welcome to Country?

A Welcome to Country can only be given by traditional owners and custodians of the land in question.

How do we organise a Welcome to Country?

Diversity staff will work in partnership with the Traditional Owners and Custodians, Football Operations, Leagues/Affiliates and the appropriate stakeholders in the lead up to these events to ensure that Welcome to Countries are specific and culturally relevant.

RECOGNISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND WELCOME TO COUNTRY PROTOCOL

3. AFL QUEENSLAND’S STATEMENT OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThis formal statement can be used at internal meetings that may be considered too minor or not significant enough to warrant a full Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners and Custodians.

“AFL QUEENSLAND EMBRACES AND ENCOURAGES DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND RESPECT FOR EVERYONE AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS ARE AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PEOPLES AND THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND CUSTODIANS OF AUSTRALIAN LANDS AND WATERS.”

RECOGNISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND WELCOME TO COUNTRY PROTOCOL

RECOGNISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE TRADITIONAL OWNERS AND WELCOME TO COUNTRY PROTOCOL

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN FLAGSThe Aboriginal flag is divided horizontally into halves. The top half is black and the lower half red. There is a yellow circle in the centre of the flag.

The meanings of the three colours in the flag, as stated by Harold Thomas, are:

• Black – represents the Aboriginal people of Australia

• Yellow circle – represents the Sun, the giver of life and protector

• Red – represents the red earth, the red ochre used in ceremonies and Aboriginal peoples’ spiritual relation to the land

The Torres Strait Islander flag has three horizontal panels, with green at the top and bottom and blue in between. These panels are divided by thin black lines. A white Dhari (traditional headdress) sits in the centre, with a five-pointed white star beneath it.

The meanings of the colours in the flag are:

• Green – represents the land• Black – represents the Indigenous

peoples• Blue - represents the sea• White – represents peace

The Dhari represents Torres Strait Islander people and the five-pointed star represents the five island groups within the Torres Strait. The star is also a symbol for seafaring people as it is used in navigation.