Cultural Protocols 

The Town of Victoria Park recognises that Noongar people are core to the Town's identity. It is vital therefore that Noongar culture and Noongar country are recognised, acknowledged and celebrated on every appropriate occasion.

One of the ways the Town is committed to doing so is through demonstrating respect by the implementation of cultural protocols at all Town meetings, events and town led public gatherings.

In the process of doing so, it is important to not engage in ‘re-colonisation’ but wherever possible seek advice and leadership from Noongar people on cultural matters. It is the right of Noongar people to protect culture, and as such, all displays and reproductions of culturally significant information and representation must be discussed in consultation with Noongar leaders and/or relevant cultural groups (i.e. photos, video, text, and artworks by or of  Noongar people).

Welcome to Country

A Welcome to Country ceremony is described by the Southwest Aboriginal Land & Sea Council as an: “acknowledgment and recognition of the rights of Noongar people’s traditional country”.

Only an Aboriginal elder whose country it is, can conduct a Welcome to Country. For example, only a Whadjuk Noongar elder can conduct a Welcome to Country on Whadjuk Noongar land. A Welcome to Country must be first in the order of proceedings at any Town event, before any other formalities or introductions. A Welcome to Country is a profound recognition that we are gathered on Aboriginal country and that it is only by the act of “welcoming” that any proceeding on this country can rightfully take place.

At any significant event or gathering in the Town it is important to, where possible, engage a Noongar elder to deliver a Welcome to Country.  If it is not possible for a Whadjuk Noongar leader to conduct a Welcome to Country ceremony, at the very least an Acknowledgement of Country is to be communicated by the spokesperson of the event or gathering

For information on Welcome to Country, or to get in contact with a Whadjuk Noongar elder, please contact the Town of Victoria Park

Acknowledgement of Country

An Acknowledgement of Country is a way for non-Aboriginal people to show respect and understanding of Noongar people, their connection to the land, and to acknowledge the enduring connection and relationship with country that exists for Aboriginal people always.

Usually, the leader of a small community group, (chairperson of a meeting, principal speaker of a forum, opening address at a council gathering), communicates an Acknowledgment of Country prior to the event proceeding.  In the context of the Town of Victoria Park this  statement acknowledges, publicly, that the meeting/event is taking place on Whadjuk Noongar land, and that Whadjuk Noongar people are the traditional custodians of the land.

An Acknowledgment should always pay respect to the traditional custodians of this country and the way they have, through inter-generational wisdom, cared for this country. It is important however to authentically speak to an Acknowledgment, a ‘script’ therefore is not encouraged. It is more powerful if each speaker engages with this in their own way.

The Town of Victoria Park and the Mindeera Advisory Group recommend the following as a baseline for Acknowledgement of Country at community meetings and gatherings. 
These will need to change after the next Mindeera meeting if the version Sharon Gregory proposed is accepted.

Long

I am honoured to be standing on Whadjuk - Noongar country on the banks of the Swan River. 

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and respect past, present and emerging Leaders, their continuing cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land, which continues to be important today. 

I thank them for the contribution made to life in the Town of Victoria Park and to this region.  

Medium

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Whadjuk Noongars from the Noongar nation and pay my respects to past, present and emerging leaders, their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with this land which still continues today.

Short

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the Whadjuk Noongars from the Noongar nation of Australia and pay my respects to past, present and emerging leaders. 

Note alternative spellings:

• Whadjuk/Wadjak
• Noongar/Nyoongar/Nyungar