connecting our Jewish community through sport and wellbeing
WELCOME TO COUNTRY POLICY
INTRODUCTION
Maccabi Australia has adopted the use of a Welcome to Country as outlined by the Indigenous Affairs department.
There are some essential requirements which we need to be mindful of including:
• Only Traditional Owners/Custodians of the land on which the event takes place can deliver a Welcome to Country.
• If a Traditional Owner is not available to do a Welcome to Country, an Acknowledgement of Country can be delivered instead.
In all cases it is likely that Maccabi will adopt an Acknowledgement of Country to be delivered at:
• significant/large internal meetings
• meetings with external participants e.g. AGMs, Council Meetings
TYPES OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
There are three types of Acknowledgement of Country:
Generic
This should be used if you don’t know the name of the people on whose land you are gathered, or if there are disputes about the land (multiple Aboriginal peoples identify as Traditional Custodians for that area).
The words to be used are:
'I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we <gather/meet> today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.'
Specific
This should be used where there are no disputes and you know the name of the people on whose land you are gathered.
The words are:
'I would like to begin by acknowledging the <insert name of people here> people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we <gather/meet> today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.'
When holding an event at a Maccabi office, the appropriate acknowledgements are:
Melbourne (City of Glen Eira): Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation
Sydney (Woollahra Council): the land of the Gadigal and Birrabirragal people of the Eora Nation
Perth (City of Stirling): the Wadjak people of the Nyoongar Nation
General
These words are for Australia wide communication such as webinars, websites and printed material.
The words are:
'In the spirit of reconciliation, Maccabi acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.'
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