FORMAL DISPLAYS OF RESPECT
ACKNOWLEDGING KOKATHA COUNTRY AND PEOPLE
Kokatha Aboriginal Corporation (KAC) encourages all individuals, organisations, and partners working, visiting, or engaging on Kokatha Country to demonstrate formal respect for the Kokatha people.
Formal displays of respect recognise the enduring spiritual, cultural, and physical connection that Kokatha people have to their Country. These gestures help strengthen relationships, promote understanding, and ensure that all engagement with Kokatha Country is carried out in a culturally appropriate and respectful manner.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
An Acknowledgement of Country is a formal statement that recognises and pays respect to the Traditional Owners of the land.
Example wording:
“I would like to acknowledge the Kokatha people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we meet today and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.”
WELCOME TO COUNTRY
A Welcome to Country is a formal ceremony performed only by Kokatha knowledge holder. It is an important cultural protocol that should be observed at significant events, such as:
- Official openings or launches
- Major community gatherings or conferences
- Cultural or government ceremonies
- Events held on Kokatha Country involving external visitors
The Welcome to Country may include speech, song, dance, ceremony, or other traditional practices, depending on the nature of the event and the wishes of the knowledge holder or cultural representative.
To arrange a Welcome to Country, please click on the button below to complete a Kokatha Formal Demonstration of Respect Request Form to ensure the appropriate representative is engaged today.