Society/Culture The Welcome/Acknowledgment of Country thread

[parsons nose]

I’m outraged. Now I know many wiser heads than myself tell me that my outrage is the zeitgeist, or spirit of the times. One of the great joys that equality in the eyes of the laws has delivered, is the sense of entitlement. That my needs are supreme to all others. And through various advocacies and commissions that have mushroomed as a result of these grand new times, I intent to prosecute my case using the full extent of the law. Maybe we can all be united in our outrage.

 

[Chief]

“I’m here this evening to perform a ceremony of Welcome to Country,” Kerin began before the semi-final at Sydney Olympic Park.

“A Welcome to Country is not a welcome to Australia. Within Australia we have many Aboriginal lands and we refer to our lands as ‘country’.

“So it’s always a welcome to the lands you’ve gathered on.”

Kerin then pointed out it is not a relatively new ceremony aimed at white Australians.

“A Welcome to Country is not a ceremony we’ve invented to cater for white people,” he continued.

“It’s a ceremony we’ve been doing for 60,000 years-plus BC. And the BC stands for Before Cook.”

The last comment received a smattering of applause and a few laughs and was a reference to Captain James Cook, who made the first recorded European contact with Australian land in 1770.

“Prior to colonisation, you could get yourself in a lot of trouble for walking on someone else’s lands without being welcomed onto those lands,” Kerin added. “So for me it’s always an honour to perform this ceremony.”

Kerin, who received more warm applause after his speech, then played a short piece on a didgeridoo before the National Anthem was sung by Mimi Velevska.

 

[RUNVS]

He treated Indigenous people like dogs mate.

'Many Indigenous people and supporters of their causes and sensibilities rightly view the lieutenant as the doorman for so many ills that followed, including the smallpox epidemic of 1789 that killed as many as seven in 10 Aboriginal people of the new colony for which Cook’s arrival paved the way.

'We’ll hear much today about how Cook brought “enlightenment” to a continent that has staged the world’s longest continuous civilisation for 100,000 years. The boosters will insist that commemorating divisive Cook – whose first act on landing on 29 April 1770 was to shoot one of the Indigenous men who challenged him – is also, somehow, the means to Australian reconciliation.'

Commemorating Captain James Cook’s arrival, Australia should not omit his role in the suffering that followed | Paul Daley

He arguably paved the way for the terrible experiences of generations of Indigenous people

www.theguardian.com

What came after wasn't necessarily Cook's fault though. I am not saying what he did was good, but what came after was not really his doing.

It is unfortunate, but at that point it was only a matter of time until the Aboriginal people were taken over, it was always going to happen unfortunately. Perhaps the French would have been better to the Aboriginal people, or the Spanish/Dutch I am not sure, but it is good the Belgiums did not colonise Australia as they were campaigners back then.

 

[Bostonian]

“I’m here this evening to perform a ceremony of Welcome to Country,” Kerin began before the semi-final at Sydney Olympic Park.

“A Welcome to Country is not a welcome to Australia. Within Australia we have many Aboriginal lands and we refer to our lands as ‘country’.

“So it’s always a welcome to the lands you’ve gathered on.”

Kerin then pointed out it is not a relatively new ceremony aimed at white Australians.

“A Welcome to Country is not a ceremony we’ve invented to cater for white people,” he continued.

“It’s a ceremony we’ve been doing for 60,000 years-plus BC. And the BC stands for Before Cook.”

The last comment received a smattering of applause and a few laughs and was a reference to Captain James Cook, who made the first recorded European contact with Australian land in 1770.

“Prior to colonisation, you could get yourself in a lot of trouble for walking on someone else’s lands without being welcomed onto those lands,” Kerin added. “So for me it’s always an honour to perform this ceremony.”

Kerin, who received more warm applause after his speech, then played a short piece on a didgeridoo before the National Anthem was sung by Mimi Velevska.

He said 250,000, not 60,000.

 

[Chief]

He said 250,000, not 60,000.

Good work!

 

[Bostonian]

Good work!

By your good self. At least you're not using made up figures.

 

[Bostonian]

He treated Indigenous people like dogs mate.

'Many Indigenous people and supporters of their causes and sensibilities rightly view the lieutenant as the doorman for so many ills that followed, including the smallpox epidemic of 1789 that killed as many as seven in 10 Aboriginal people of the new colony for which Cook’s arrival paved the way.

'We’ll hear much today about how Cook brought “enlightenment” to a continent that has staged the world’s longest continuous civilisation for 100,000 years. The boosters will insist that commemorating divisive Cook – whose first act on landing on 29 April 1770 was to shoot one of the Indigenous men who challenged him – is also, somehow, the means to Australian reconciliation.'

Commemorating Captain James Cook’s arrival, Australia should not omit his role in the suffering that followed | Paul Daley

He arguably paved the way for the terrible experiences of generations of Indigenous people

www.theguardian.com

No civilization has been around for 100,000 years.

Who writes this nonsense?

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

What came after wasn't necessarily Cook's fault though. I am not saying what he did was good, but what came after was not really his doing.

It is unfortunate, but at that point it was only a matter of time until the Aboriginal people were taken over, it was always going to happen unfortunately. Perhaps the French would have been better to the Aboriginal people, or the Spanish/Dutch I am not sure, but it is good the Belgiums did not colonise Australia as they were campaigners back then.

He shot dead someone when he first arrived snd killed 70% of the pop with small pox.
Then over the years his government slaughtered over 100,000 people in massacres.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

No civilization has been around for 100,000 years.

Who writes this nonsense?

It's at least 65,000 years and probably more than 100,000 years if you look at the research.
65,000 years is the accepted minimum.

 

[QuietB]

I think you should stop guessing, you know nothing about me, my background, my upbringing or my beliefs. I think you should attempt to get to know my views before you attempt to disparage them again.

Given you have not refuted one single point I made I am going to stick with my guess.

 

[Bostonian]

It's at least 65,000 years and probably more than 100,000 years if you look at the research.
65,000 years is the accepted minimum.

That's not a civilization.

The oldest civilizations developed around 3000-4000 BCE

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

That's not a civilization.

The oldest civilizations developed around 3000-4000 BCE

Leave out the semantics mate.

 

[QuietB]

He said 250,000, not 60,000.

And that is the important bit

 

[Xtreme]

When you use it any chance you get it loses any kind of meaning.

Correct
It loses its impact when its done at the opening of an envelope.

 

[Bianconeri]

Given you have not refuted one single point I made I am going to stick with my guess.

Fine then, be an ignorant bigot.

 

[Bostonian]

And that is the important bit

Well it is important when you want to trust the credibility of someone.

If someone can fabricate one bit of information why can't they fabricate a whole series of tales.

He's the first person to reel off 250,000 years.

 

[Bostonian]

Leave out the semantics mate.

I don't think quoting historical research is "semantics".

 

[Heeney2Franklin]

I think Sport should be free of politics first of all.

Second i think welcome to country doesnt do anything for uniting infact the opposite.

 

[Headless]

I think Sport should be free of politics first of all.

Second i think welcome to country doesnt do anything for uniting infact the opposite.

What's political about it?

 

[garlic munchers]

“A Welcome to Country is not a ceremony we’ve invented to cater for white people”.

If these indigenous leaders are going to use primetime TV as an opportunity to be somewhat insulting & controversial like he did, should the AFL discontinue the practice ??

He is 100% rolled gold correct that "Welcome to Country is not a ceremony we’ve invented to cater for white people".

Staggered that anyone would take offence to this or seek to deny this.

Welcome to Country is now a ceremony perpetuated/spread by white people to cater for other white people who want to feel better about themselves whilst engaging in symbolism only.

 

[jakson68]

Just went back and watched it and it is just divisive crap.

It is getting beyond a joke now, how wit is shoved down our throats everyday.
I have to do this BS at every meeting I have, even if it is on ZOOM.
Next I will have a WTC to order a pizza.

Australia has gone mad with the way the country is going.
Between the corrupt and weak Governments, to the people who protest for the sake of protesting all the way to the people who fight a cause they know little about.
Australia just isnt that enjoyable anymore.

The sooner I can retire and leave this overtaxed, over governed, miserable place the better.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

In 1700s you’d still need a some of treaty for it not to be theft.

In the 1700s "natives" were considered fauna.
You literally cannot steal from them as a result.

It was a messed up time, but those are the facts.

It's no different to the Dutch going in and wiping out

 

[The Devils Advocate]

I think Sport should be free of politics first of all.

Second i think welcome to country doesnt do anything for uniting infact the opposite.

What on earth is political about being welcomed?

 

[Pt Augusta Power]

Thought it was good actually - knew there would be backlash from people though - some very sensitive mites out there.

My kids - who have very much grown up with grandparents and other folk who would anytime a WTC is done state ‘why should I be welcomed to my own country’ - told me after this WTC they understood better why this tradition exists. Which made them feel like ‘oh so this isn’t for grandma who hates it anyway’.

 

[Pt Augusta Power]

Also - IMO if your biggest issue is a WTC then you’re going ok.

If you’re triggered by a WTC then you need to toughen up - or chill the **** out a bit.