Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Modified on Fri, 30 Aug at 8:43 AM

Overview

This information is designed to support people who coordinate, manage and lead volunteers in building relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by providing introductory knowledge to better understand Culture, access reliable information and appropriately work with Community.

To build on these resources it is essential to continue to do the work of listening, learning and being an active supporter of Community. Transparency, honesty and being genuine are keys to long lasting relationships.

Non-Indigenous volunteer-involving organisations should look to build principles of Aboriginal self-determination into ways of working and program delivery. This includes ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are involved in program design and decision-making on services which affect them. Contact your local Aboriginal Community to gather information about your local area.

Welcome to Country

A Welcome to Country or Traditional Welcome is where the traditional Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander custodians welcome people to their land at the beginning of a meeting, event or ceremony. This welcome must be conducted by an appropriate person such as a recognised Elder from the local area.

Welcome to Country enables the Traditional Custodians to give their blessing to the event and is an important mark of respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia's original inhabitants.

Whether spoken or performed, the aim of the ceremony is to acknowledge the traditional custodians and welcome the wider community.

The Elder or a representative will give their blessing to the event, function, meeting or occasion. In response, the host or key speaker will acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities by paying respects to Elders past and present.

To arrange a Welcome to Country, contact your local Aboriginal Land Council or Aboriginal Organisation.

Acknowledgement of Country

An Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity for anyone to show respect for Traditional Owners and the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country. An Acknowledgement of Country can be offered by any person and like a Welcome to Country, is given at the beginning of a meeting, speech or function.

Preparing an acknowledgement of country

There is no specific acknowledgement of country protocol which is appropriate for all communities, contexts or geographical locations, however there are guides and formats to follow and you should practice, be genuine and if possible, research which Country you are acknowledging.

An Acknowledgement of Country can be performed in the absence of an Aboriginal representative and is commonly done so at the beginning of meetings, events and functions.

An example Acknowledgement of Country

"We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand. We extend this acknowledgement to all First Nations Peoples and recognise the importance of their connection to place and community on these lands and pay our respects to Elders, past, and present."

History

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been the custodians of these lands for thousands of generations. They govern, care and maintain country through their own systems and protocols; conducting business and custodianship with direction from Elders and knowledge holders and keepers. Through these practices Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are the longest-living and continuous culture in the world.

Background and context

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have experienced prolonged exclusion from Australian history and for many years, Australian democracy. The recent history of dispossession and colonisation lies at the crux of inequality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Australians today.

We strongly recommend learning and understanding these histories and experience, and promoting the important knowledge and cultural practices, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For volunteer involving organisations, educating your staff and volunteers on these histories, experiences and practices will not only build the cultural knowledge of your organisation but help to create culturally safe and inclusive environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This is a key foundation in developing relationships and forming genuine connections as well as the bonus of learning about the oldest living culture in the world.

If you are interested in learning more about the rich histories and cultural practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, please follow the links below:

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (AIATSIS):

https://aiatsis.gov.au/

Reconciliation Australia:

What is Reconciliation

Volunteering and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture

The word volunteering often does not reflect other cultures' representation of supporting or helping. In Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, volunteering is often associated with formal settings or as part of an external organisation. The terms giving, sharing, and supporting are concepts that are part of the cultural practices and the act of supporting members of the community is often considered a part of life and not seen as a separate act or system.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have very high volunteering rates connected with community support and cultural practices of giving, sharing and supporting.

Which Country am I on?

Wherever you are in Australia you are on the lands and waters of Australia's First Peoples.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia is made up of many different and distinct groups, each with their own cultural customs, language and laws. Within NSW there are many clans who are the traditional owners of that area, these overlap with one another and do not reference what we know as State boundaries such as NSW/ACT/QLD.

Understanding whose land, you're on and which local community is the owner is an essential part in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It forms the basis of respect and a commitment to working towards reconciliation.

Identifying the traditional owners of a particular area can take time however the result is rewarding and informative for you and your organisations development.

There are a number of resources that can help determine whose land you are on. The Centre recommends:

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (AIATSIS)

AIATSIS have created a brilliant map of Indigenous Australia which helps visualise the vast groups of country across NSW and Australia.

Land councils representing the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities

Local Land Councils can help. You can find information for the relevant land councils on the Australian Government website. You can also find details about native title groups and corporations on the Prescribed Bodies Corporate website.

Your local council is a reliable source for learning which Country you are on.

Local Government and Council websites

Generally both will include an acknowledgement of the local traditional owners, this can be found on the home page, or contact page.

State and territory government websites

Generally include information about traditional owners in their jurisdictions. In addition, a number of states and territories have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consultative bodies, which themselves might offer advice.

For more information please visit:

AIATSIS - Whose Country Am I On

Significant Dates

In New South Wales, and Nationally there are dates that are significant to First Nations peoples, and are celebrated, honoured or remembered by First Nations peoples and non-First Nations peoples alike.

See below for these dates and information surrounding them:
26 January SurvivalSurvival Day
13 February Anniversaryniversary of the Apology
13 March National Close the Gap Day
26 May National National Sorry Day commemorates the history of forcible removals of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and placing them in care by non-Indigenous foster parents (the Stolen Generation). Its complementary name is Journey of Healing Day.
27 - 3 June National Reconciliation Week
3 June Mabo Day
2 - 9 July National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Week otherwise known as NAIDOC (National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee) Week, has been celebrated since 1975 as a sign of remembrance of Aboriginal people and heritage.
9 July National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Day is celebrated as part of NAIDOC Week.
4 August International Day of the World's Indigenous People
9 August International Day for the World's Indigenous People draws attention to the poverty suffered by many of the world's 350 million Indigenous people.

For further information on significant dates please visit:

Reconciliation NSW Significant Dates

First Nations Cultural Resources - PDF Guides

These resources have been produced in partnership between Aunty Barbara O’Neill and Graham Toomey, and The Centre for Volunteering.

Resource topics and insights have been informed by both The Centre for Volunteering’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group and non-Indigenous members of the NSW volunteering sector.

Developed through a co-design process with Aunty Barb and Graham, the resources seek to ensure that non-Indigenous volunteer-involving organisations are well placed to understand, support, engage and build strong relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

Resource Listing:

Building Mutually Beneficial Partnerships
Country
Culturally Important Dates and Events
Culture and Identity
Glossary
Kinship and Connectedness
Trauma and Health

Sensitivity Warning:

These resources may be confronting for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Please consider your own capacity to engage with these topics when using this resource.