Bookmark: Acknowledging Country

The Aboriginal Support Group - Manly Warringah Pittwater (ASG) have produced a bookmark to raise awareness of the protocol for acknowledgement of country, with the financial assistance of Warringah Council. It was launched during Seniors Week 2003 at Manly Dam by Allen Madden, Aboriginal Education Officer with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.

During a Council meeting held on Tuesday 11 November, 2003, Warringah Council's administrator, Dick Persson, accepted the ASG's request for Council to formalise the Acknowledgement of Country (see below) as part of every Council meeting and all official functions and to fly the Aboriginal flag alongside the Australian flag outside the council chambers daily.

ACKNOWLEDGING COUNTRY

As a sign of respect to the traditional owners of this land, more and more speakers at public events are opening their addresses with "acknowledgment of country".

On the Northern Beaches of Sydney we acknowledge the Guringai people, the original owners of the coastal area bordered to the south by Port Jackson, to the north by Broken Bay and to the west by the Lane Cove River. For example:

"I acknowledge that we are here today on the land of the Guringai people. The Guringai are the traditional owners of this land and are part of the oldest surviving continuous culture in the world. I pay my respects to the spirits of the Guringai people."

If you would like a bookmark please send a stamped self addressed envelope to the ASG. Please see Contact Us for details.

FAQ of the Month:

Why is there an Indigenous health crisis in Australia?