When one attends a public function in Australia one is likely to endure a nauseating ‘welcome to country’ or ‘acknowledgement of country’ before the real business begins.
A typical example might start off like this:-
‘Our meeting/conference/workshop is being held on the lands of the [Traditional Owner’s name] people and I wish to acknowledge them as Traditional Owners.
I would also like to pay my respects to their Elders, past and present, and Aboriginal Elders of other communities who may be here today.’
These little speeches are meant to remind everyone that Aboriginals at some time or other occupied the particular piece of land on which the public function is being held. There is a implication that, in fact, these Aboriginals still own it. They are also meant to remind Australians that any property they own was stolen from Aboriginals. Readers will know of the movement to have Australia Day…
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