Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country?

Welcoming visitors to Country has been a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures since time immemorial. Historically boundaries were clear and permission was required before entering another tribe’s Country.

The visitors would be provided safe passage during their journey, and would be expected to respect the protocols and rules of the Nation whose Country they were travelling on. Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country are a continuing practice from this ancient tradition.

A Welcome to Country is delivered by Traditional Owners , or other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been given permission by Traditional Owners to welcome visitors to their Country. Typically this is limited to a tribe’s Elders.

Welcome to Country can take many forms including singing, dancing, smoking and/or speaking.

An Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity for visitors to Country to show respect for Traditional Owners and the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Country. It may be offered by any person and, while many businesses provide and even mandate specific phrases, an Acknowledgement of Country has no specific wording; it is more important to be sincere.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people delivering an Acknowledgement of Country will often acknowledge their own mob(s) and other First Nations people present.