Society/Culture The Welcome/Acknowledgment of Country thread

[schneebly111]

No surprise that it's the daily mail that is trying to make something out of nothing.

Well it wasn’t Goodes level booing but I’m wondering were there a few boos? Just search red through social media and can’t see any evidence of that. Did the Daily Fail just make it up?

 

[Reg Grundy35]

Well it wasn’t Goodes level booing but I’m wondering were there a few boos? Just search red through social media and can’t see any evidence of that. Did the Daily Fail just make it up?

theyve got form in that regard
Good to hear that the 100k all got through the WTC without anyone requiring urgent medical attention or having their feelings mortally hurt. Well done everyone!

 

[South of the Yarra]

Well it wasn’t Goodes level booing but I’m wondering were there a few boos? Just search red through social media and can’t see any evidence of that. Did the Daily Fail just make it up?

There were pockets of boos but definitely in the minority.

 

[schneebly111]

There were pockets of boos but definitely in the minority.

Wonder if anyone sitting nearby told them to shut up or anything?

First it starts as pockets of boos but if it’s not put down immediately then it becomes widespread.

 

[campbell]

Uncle Colin was Deadly. I also loved Christin Anu singing in language.....

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

I think blanket usage inevitably dilutes significance.

I was at a very informal Cricket Vic coaching session tonight and an acknowledgment of country was given...delivered blithely by someone who would have no idea whose country they were on. Tokenism.

Haka is performed at the opening of envelopes these days. Used to give me chills...now it gives me WTFs.

Delivered by the right people in the right setting can be breath taking and give great cause for reflection, but I fear corporatised usage is creating ambivalence.

 

[CM86]

I think blanket usage inevitably dilutes significance.

I was at a very informal Cricket Vic coaching session tonight and an acknowledgment of country was given...delivered blithely by someone who would have no idea whose country they were on. Tokenism.

Haka is performed at the opening of envelopes these days. Used to give me chills...now it gives me WTFs.

Delivered by the right people in the right setting can be breath taking and give great cause for reflection, but I fear corporatised usage is creating ambivalence.

What did they do/say, and what do you think they should have done/said differently?


What aspect did you feel was Tokenism?

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

What did they do/say, and what do you think they should have done/said differently?


What aspect did you feel was Tokenism?

The acknowledgnent was delivered with a 'let's get this out of the way' air. But given the informal setting one can hardly blame. That the state govt. appear to acknowledge the wrong traditional owners is another matter, but I digress.

The tokenism for mine is corporate entities...in this case Cricket Victoria...adopting an acknowledment at every turn. It feels forced and fake...ignoble. Akin to greenwashing.

 

[CM86]

The acknowledgnent was delivered with a 'let's get this out of the way' air. But given the informal setting one can hardly blame. That the state govt. appear to acknowledge the wrong traditional owners is another matter, but I digress.

The tokenism for mine is corporate entities...in this case Cricket Victoria...adopting an acknowledment at every turn. It feels forced and fake...ignoble.

But your issue is with the person then, not the Acknowledgement of Country, right?


It's just about starting meetings with a quick show of respect to your land that you're meeting on and that it has history. Takes 2 seconds.

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

But your issue is with the person then, not the Acknowledgement of Country, right?


It's just about starting meetings with a quick show of respect to your land that you're meeting on and that it has history. Takes 2 seconds.

No, my issue is an acknowledgment of country is futile if not delivered in the right setting and with the right intent.

The net result of entities commercialising such acknowledgments will be people turning off and tuning out. It's counterproductive.

 

[CM86]

No, my issue is an acknowledgment of country is futile if not delivered in the right setting and with the right intent.

The net result of entities commercialising such acknowledgments will be people turning off and tuning out. It's counterproductive.

The more it's done, the more it normalises the knowledge of Indigenous existence prior to European colonisation.

It's not being commercialised, it's commercial organisations adopting aspects that have been asked for by Indigenous Australians.



I'm not understanding, as again your issue with it seems to be the people doing it incorrectly, rather than any part of the acknowledgment itself.
But you're framing it as an issue with the Acknowledgement of Country.

Suggested wording could include:​

​

"I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present."​

The setting isn't important. The intent is, but again that's an issue with the person, not the action, right?

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

The more it's done, the more it normalises the knowledge of Indigenous existence prior to European colonisation.

It's not being commercialised, it's commercial organisations adopting aspects that have been asked for by Indigenous Australians.



I'm not understanding, as again your issue with it seems to be the people doing it incorrectly, rather than any part of the acknowledgment itself.
But you're framing it as an issue with the Acknowledgement of Country.

Suggested wording could include:​

​

"I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present."​

The setting isn't important. The intent is, but again that's an issue with the person, not the action, right?

I didn't realise you were there...

My point being...again...that I believe that an acknowledgment of country should be reserved for settings...occasions if you prefer, of some significance, that give cause to reflect and encourage deeper understanding. Not eight blokes standing around in shorts after work wanting to lear something about cricket. An AGM? Let me have it. Rep Week Opening Speech? Give me all you've got. Opening session of a test? I'm loving it. It means something. This setting had no more gravitas than any of the 30 other interactions I had today.

I'm not framing an issue with the acknowledgment. You appear to be fishing for a gotcha...when I'm simply stating that over familiarity breeds ambivalence...at best.

I've worked for enough corporates to see the depth of understanding that goes into adopting such policies. It would be naive to assume the level of advice and intent.

 

[CM86]

I didn't realise you were there...

I wasn't, I'm going on the limited information you've shared, and I'm asking for more to try and understand your position.

These aren't gotchas and you shouldn't feel that they are.


So is your position that you just want it to happen a lot less than it currently does?
And it's because you think it's so important that it should only be done for important occasions?


I think it should be so common that it just becomes part of our life that we acknowledge Indigenous existence prior to European colonisation.

I didn't realise you were there...

My point being...again...that I believe that an acknowledgment of country should be reserved for settings...occasions if you prefer, of some significance, that give cause to reflect and encourage deeper understanding. Not eight blokes standing around in shorts after work wanting to lear something about cricket. An AGM? Let me have it. Rep Week Opening Speech? Give me all you've got. Opening session of a test? I'm loving it. It means something. This setting had no more gravitas than any of the 30 other interactions I had today.

I'm not framing an issue with the acknowledgment. You appear to be fishing for a gotcha...when I'm simply stating that over familiarity breeds ambivalence...at best.

I've worked for enough corporates to see the depth of understanding that goes into adopting such policies. It would be naive to assume the level of advice and intent.

A small group of 8 doesn't need it at the start of a short meeting, especially if no one cares about it.

Some people before any speech will just say it to make a point, because it means something to them.

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

So is your position that you just want it to happen a lot less than it currently does?
And it's because you think it's so important that it should only be done for important occasions?


I think it should be so common that it just becomes part of our life that we acknowledge Indigenous existence prior to European colonisation.

A small group of 8 doesn't need it at the start of a short meeting, especially if no one cares about it.

Some people before any speech will just say it to make a point, because it means something to them.

I think I've been fairly clear and articulated some examples of where an acknowledgment of country feels appropriate to me.

In part because I believe there should be a level of significance to the occasion, and because I believe it's counter productive to growing any genuine understanding if continually attached to mundane activities and/or settings. It feels shallow.

 

[CM86]

I think I've been fairly clear and articulated some examples of where an acknowledgment of country feels appropriate to me.

In part because I believe there should be a level of significance to the occasion, and because I believe it's counter productive to growing any genuine understanding if continually attached to mundane activities and/or settings. It feels shallow.

OK, happy to leave it there if you've shared all you're comfortable with.

I find it hard to understand how someone could believe it's so significant and important that they don't want it to happen as often.
Because to me the idea is to have it normalised, which can only be done with it being part of major, minor and even casual things. Because those are all aspects of life we engage with.
It's a 2 - 3 second statement that doesn't hold anyone up, or impact anyone.

But I guess we view it differently. And it doesn't make either of us bad or wrong.

You view it as so important that it should be infrequent enough to stand out.
I view it as so important as that it becomes a normalised part of Australia that we all just understand and acknowledge Indigenous existence prior to European colonisation. Directly opposing the "Terra Nullius" that was normalised.

 

[Jacks Seething Rage]

OK, happy to leave it there if you've shared all you're comfortable with.

I find it hard to understand how someone could believe it's so significant and important that they don't want it to happen as often.
Because to me the idea is to have it normalised, which can only be done with it being part of major, minor and even casual things. Because those are all aspects of life we engage with.
It's a 2 - 3 second statement that doesn't hold anyone up, or impact anyone.

But I guess we view it differently. And it doesn't make either of us bad or wrong.

You view it as so important that it should be infrequent enough to stand out.
I view it as so important as that it becomes a normalised part of Australia that we all just understand and acknowledge Indigenous existence prior to European colonisation. Directly opposing the "Terra Nullius" that was normalised.

Oh look I'm a healthy cynic too. I live in a region where the state government acknowledges one indigenous group as traditional owners...over who much research suggests to be the actual traditional owners.

Imagine the pain of having your history and country denied twice? Well intended policy isn't always good policy...and as such requires constant scrutiny.

But mostly I just believe that if the aim is to grow understanding of indigenous existence and custom...blanketing our daily lives with acknowledgments of country is a poor strategy.