Welcome

Nungamanladi,  It was 2005, I was lying on the floor of a meditation workshop at the foot of Gulaga, the sacred mountain of the Yuin people, eyes closed, breath steady. A voice filled the space, rich with wisdom and poetry, and in that moment, it reached deep into my soul. Fast forward to last Saturday, and I was captivated again – this time, not by a recording, but by the presence of David Whyte, the British poet and storyteller, on stage at the Wesley Chapel. No slides, no gimmicks, just the raw power of words. David opened with a blessing, describing it as: “The art of bringing things alive so they can be felt and experienced in their true, essential form… a way of calling the extraordinary from the ordinary.” Which brings me to Welcome to Country.“A Welcome to Country provides visitors with safe passage through Country. It’s a prayer and a blessing.” – Aunty MunyaAnother form of blessing – one that has recently come under attack.A powerful article in The Sydney Morning Herald, “Feeling Unwelcome: Why Debate is Mounting Over an Ancient Ceremony”, explored the growing backlash against Welcome to Country. Critics claim it is divisive or costly, yet the reality is far from it.At a local council meeting in Taree, a place I know well, Councillor Mick Graham dismissed the practice as “woke and meaningless”, while others declared: “Time will bury the Welcome.”In that same room, Biripi man Jeremy Saunders sat quietly, later sharing:“This has been really difficult on us as a people—it puts us down. Welcome to Country is about love, about acceptance, about appreciating this beautiful place we share.” The Truth Behind the MisinformationThe backlash against Welcome to Country is not just about ceremony – t’s about Indigenous cultural visibility. Misinformation is driving the debate, including:The false claim that it is divisive – In reality, it is a generous invitation to share and respect Country.The cost argument – Some say it’s a “multi-million-dollar industry,” yet over two years, only $550,000 was spent by federal agencies—compared to $10 million allocated for Australia Day events in a single year.The idea that it’s a modern invention – In truth, it has existed for tens of thousands of years as a protocol for seeking permission to enter another group’s land.“One of the biggest misrepresentations is that it is a Welcome to Australia (the country), but it isn’t. It is a Welcome to specific tribal territory.” – Aunty Munya Closing the GapThis issue speaks to something much deeper.A Welcome to Country is an act of recognition, a moment to say, we see you, we respect you, we share this land together. When that is dismissed or erased, it sends a powerful message of exclusion.Which brings me back to David Whyte, who describes friendship as:“The ultimate touchstone is witness – the privilege of having been seen by someone and the equal privilege of being granted the sight of the essence of another… to have accompanied them, however brief a span, on a journey impossible to accomplish alone.”This is echoed by Aunty Munya:“A Welcome to Country is extending the hand of friendship. It’s about seeing us. For a people who historically have not been seen and marginalised, this is a powerful gesture.”Are we going to turn our backs on this extended hand? How will we show up as Allies? We have lots of ideas – but I’d love to hear from you too. What are your thoughts on this? Did something in this email resonate with you – or challenge you? Just hit reply and let me know. Anggirriya Mangalinyan (Together as Allies in Bardi Aboriginal Language)CarlaCo-Director with Aunty Munya Andrews P.S. I personally read and answer your email replies. PLUS: Whenever you’re ready… here are 4 ways we can help you grow as a confident Ally and support your organisation’s Reconciliation goals:1. Deepen your understanding – Join our next webinar t to explore how the information gap impacts Closing the Gap.2. Read the book The 7 Steps to Practical Reconciliation your essential guide to meaningful Allyship (available in all formats).3. Become an Accredited Ally – a professional qualification providing the skills to effectively engage with First Nations peoples and communities. 4. Strategy support – Need help meeting your Reconciliation targets? Book a strategy call with our team to explore ways to achieve your goals. Book your FREE strategy call HERE Evolve is a proud Indigenous Business. We are Supply Nation Certified and NSWICC Assured. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land and pay our respect to their Elders, past and present.

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