2021 is a unique and special year for all of us to remember in many ways. It will be well documented in history for our future generations. History is a study of past events, and plays a vital role in helping everyone understand how this nation’s story began. NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The NAIDOC Week 2021 theme: Heal Country! – calls for stronger measures to recognise, protect, and maintain all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage.
Acknowledgement of Country
The Acknowledgement of Country is a step forward from the 1992 Mabo case in Australia. In the Mabo case, the High Court of Australia recognised native title and abolished the notion of terra nullius in Australia. Terra nullius is a Latin term meaning “land belonging to no one”. This is a significant recognition of the Indigenous people’s claims to the land in Australia.
The importance of the Acknowledgement of Country is perfectly summarised on the Common Ground’s website which is quoted below. Common Ground is an Aboriginal-led not for profit organisation that work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across Australia to capture and share stories, and create learning material for wider Australia.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have experienced significant exclusion from Australian society since colonisation. Also, many non-Indigenous Australians have not had the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the rich cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This has contributed to the disparity between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians that persists today.
Acknowledging First Nations people at the start of a gathering is a small way to respect the Traditional Owners of Country. It is a sign of respect to First Nations people and cultures. It is also a great way to promote awareness of First Nations cultures and issues amongst wider groups of people. Increasing awareness will help us build a more united Australia, that celebrates and embraces our First Australians.”
NAIDOC Week 2021: Playing a Part
As more people become aware of the importance of recognising and respecting the First Nations people and cultures, we believe that we should play a part in promoting awareness of First Nations cultures and issues amongst wider groups of people including new migrants, by displaying the Acknowledgement of Country on our website, particularly as a law firm specialising in Australian immigration law.
The Acknowledgement of Country is displayed in both English and Chinese on our website as follows:
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EN