2 City Councils Vote to Scrap Indigenous Ceremonies During Meetings

An Indigenous woman performs during a welcome to country ceremony during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 soccer match between China and Haiti at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide, Australia, on July 28, 2023. AAP Image/Matt Turner

Two South Australian councils have axed the Indigenous “Acknowledgement of Country” ceremonial procedure—performed at all official meetings or on correspondence—with members saying their reason for doing so was because Australia was “one country.”

On Nov. 21, the Northern Areas Council in regional South Australia passed a motion (pdf) without notice to “delete the Acknowledgement of Country and banner on correspondence.”

The motion was moved by Councillor Hank Langes and seconded by Councillor John Barberien.

Mayor Sue Scarman said an Acknowledgement to Country has been read at the start of council meetings for around two years, and there was no opposition to the motion.

Ms. Scarman said her fellow councillors were told at the meeting that the policy should be changed because “we’re one country.”

Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies, first popularised in the 1970s, is performed prior to formal proceedings to show respect to Indigenous communities and their connection to their land, while Welcome to Country is an actual physical ceremony.

“It’s a democracy,” Ms. Scarman said, reported The Advertiser.

“This was a motion of council, and it was carried, so I support it. My personal take is now null and void.”

Ms. Scarman has been approached for comment by The Epoch Times.

Meanwhile, the Acknowledgement of Country still appeared on the recent November meeting minutes, and stated: “We acknowledge and pay respect to the Nukunu and Ngadjuri people—Traditional Owners of the land the Northern Areas Council occupies—to their Elders past, present and emerging, and we extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are present today.”

However, members of the Aboriginal community have complained about the move, describing the decision as “hurtful” and “disgusting.”

“[I’m] feeling that Ngadjuri people are not wanted in that place, in that region,” Ngadjuri elder Parry Agius told ABC on Nov. 29.

“The reason behind an Acknowledgement is really about acknowledging that there were Aboriginal people before the area was colonised, and there are Aboriginal people who are now wanting to come back into the region for work, for play, for pleasure, for reconciliation, and now it’s dampened that approach.”

Additionally, Adnyamathanha elder Vince Coulthard, who won a NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010, described the move as “outrageous” and “racist.”

2nd City Council Votes to Scrap Acknowledgement a Day Later

Playford Council, also in South Australia, also voted to scrap its Acknowledgement of Country following a lengthy debate between councillors, reported The Advertiser.

Councillor David Kerrison, who introduced the motion, said the current policy of reading the Acknowledgement of Country at every meeting was “going overboard.”

“I listen to the younger generation who attend university and colleges—it’s being read out before every lecture,” Mr. Kerrison said.

“I think it’s gone a little too far and, for me, I also don’t think it’s balanced.”

However, Councillor Rebecca Vandepeear dismissed the motion to ban the acknowledgement and said it was a sign of respect.

“Councillor Kerrison talks about the inefficiency of reading out an Acknowledgement of Country in council meetings and university lectures, yet we’re spending a significant amount of time debating culture wars right now,” Ms. Vandepeear said.

Indigenous Ceremonies Removed From Church Services

In September, the Presbyterian Church of Australia banned congregations from conducting Aboriginal Australian ceremonies during services, saying it was not appropriate.

The church argued that the practice was incompatible with Christian belief.

However, the ban did not apply to “other circumstances” outside of worship services held at its churches.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a ban, the assembly was clear in expressing what it considers would be appropriate in the Presbyterian church and is relevant to all congregations,” John McClean, a spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church of Australia, said.

“Certainly for Presbyterians, the question of what you do in church as public worship is a particularly sensitive issue.”

Lyle Shelton, former director of the Australian Christian Lobby, said that the ceremonies were incompatible with Christian practices.

“I don’t think they’re trying to be disrespectful to Aboriginal people, but they’re just trying to acknowledge a higher truth that we as Christians hold,” Mr. Shelton previously told The Epoch Times.

“And so to acknowledge anyone, we should acknowledge the Creator of the country, which is the Almighty God. That’s why I have a problem with Acknowledgements of Country … so I think the Presbyterians are onto something here.”

Indigenous advocate Noel Pearson has also stated that the procedure had become overused.

“When someone opens a meeting, that’s fine, but often I see every speaker then subsequently does their own welcome, it cuts into the meeting, I can tell you,” he told 2GB radio.

“I think it’s an important development but we in Australia are still learning, we’ve got to adopt a sensible approach to rituals in our public life,” he said.