Welcome to Country...

I admit I have had to do a little bit of research on this. I had heard and seen different references and arguments in the media, but hadn’t really given the topic much of my attention.

Basically, I understand that Welcome to Country stems from a Dream Time tradition; acknowledging Australian Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders as the traditional owners of Australia, encompassing the land or sea in which a meeting, event or ceremony is about to take place. There are many rules and laws to abide to, making sure that no traditonal owner is offended. An elder or other person of significance must be involved, with a great deal of boxes to be ticked off to get the procees right. It basically has us admit that the indigenous people have sole ownership of land and sea. We (as non-Aboriginals) are mere visitors, seeking permission to use their resources.

I first encountered Welcome to Country at my son’s school end of year concert and awards ceremony. I was a little bit confused when an Aboriginal woman addressed the stage and opened the evening with a welcoming speech and blessing. It seemed odd to see a non clergy member open and bless a Catholic function.

My initial reaction was the school was trying to embrace some culture, introduce the students and parents to a bit of tolerance, and to make the evening more interesting.

To be honest, the process did drag on. People were looking around at each other with faces of, “What is this all about??”

My opinion is a little bit mixed. I don’t have a major problem with its use, and think it is a colourful tradition to have, in moderation. Using it at every event will surely lead to overkill and possible resentment.

But why are we doing it? Is it guilt? I think the “sorry” message has been played to death and does it really mean anything to today’s generation of young Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals? There will always be some Aborginals that will never forgive 'the white man', and Australian born citizens that feel, "We have been here for 4 or so generations, our rights to Australia are equal."

One could argue this is just a token gesture with very little substance, and just today’s latest ‘thing to do’.

I also think the ceremony continues to highlight that we are different and not yet assimilated. I’d love to see a move towards us all being one people, instead of emphasizing our differences.

My hairdresser is proud to talk about his Aboriginal heritage. I never consider him to be different to me. He cuts my hair, we share a joke, discuss our views of the world. He goes to clubs, watches football, enjoys fishing and eats the same food as me. Dan has just asked his Italian heritage girlfriend to marry him. I like to think young Aboriginals like Dan are our future.

Having a special smoke ceremony or a traditional didgeridoo playing can be an amazing way to open a formal meeting, alongside the national anthem and flag raising. It can even give us an opportunity to display some culture, especially in a country that is too young to have an abundance of history (eg. at an international conference). If Welcome to Country’s sole purpose is to be politically correct and to emphasise the ‘sorry” message, then it fails to interest me. Australian society will quickly bore of it, and it will lose its impact.

pic from http://www.reconciliationsa.org.au/learn%20welcometocountry.html