Best Practices: Acknowledgement of Country

Some business and cultural practices have successfully made the transition from “in real life” (IRL) to our online collaboration and meeting practices, and others have not. One of the more inspiring practices we have seen develop over the last few years has been the respect afforded to our indigenous communities. The “Acknowledgement of Country” allows us to pay our respect to the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we meet and work.

While it is easy to overlook these kinds of practices in the rush to get online, sort out the technology and adjust our headsets and cameras, taking a moment to reflect and focus and make this acknowledgement can be a powerful precursor to any meeting.

The NSW Public Service Commission (PSC) have developed some handy policies and guidelines for working from home, including approaches to cultural events, employee wellbeing and Acknowledgement of Country. We recommend following and/or adapting this approach for your own meetings.

The PSC have two main approaches and base each on the physical location of the host of the meeting or webinar:

When you know who the Traditional Custodians are for the land on which you are hosting the meeting

The recommended form of words are set out below:

I acknowledge that I am hosting/recording this meeting/webinar from the lands of the [insert Traditional Custodians name].

I also acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the various lands on which you all work today and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participating in this [meeting/webinar].

I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and connections to the lands and waters of NSW.

When you DON’T know who the Traditional Custodians are for the land on which you are hosting the meeting

The recommended form of words are set out below:

I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the various lands on which we work today and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participating in this meeting/webinar.

I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise and celebrate the diversity of Aboriginal peoples and their ongoing cultures and connections to the lands and waters of NSW.

Be sure to adapt and adjust your Acknowledgement of Country to suit your location and style of meeting. Also be aware that there is a difference between and Acknowledge of Country and a Welcome to Country (the latter being performed by Traditional Custodians or Aboriginal Elders when welcoming visitors to their lands).