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.

If you're still unsure who land you're on you can always check:

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.

Aboriginal Land Councils are 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:

https://aiatsis.gov.au/whose-country-am-i

https://www.blakbusiness.com.au/what-country-am-i-on