Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols and Cultural Awareness
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols - Forging Connection To People, Land, Sea and Sky

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols and Cultural Awareness

Forging Connection To People, Land, Sea and Sky.

The youth are Australia's future. What we teach them now, will reverberate throughout their lives and into the lives of the people that connect with them.

Respectful relationships and partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities begins in school. By engaging Aboriginal Incursions at your school or early learning centre, students and teachers gain cultural awareness. With cultural awareness comes respect. With Respect comes reconciliation. And with reconciliation comes comes healing.

The Purpose of Protocols

Learning about the profound disruption to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples through the processes of colonisation, dispossession of lands and cultures and the removal of individuals from families, students and teachers begin the true foundation for cultural awareness.

Learning deep and ongoing respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, their cultures and histories brings core values into your institution and will encourage students and teachers to stand up and promote reconciliation.

Empowering your students and staff with understanding of cultural protocols will breed ethical principles that guide the younger generations future conduct.

The lessens learnt will travel with the young people into their homes and be embedded into their adult lives helping to create a safe future for all Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non Aboriginal peoples across Australia.

Cultural Awareness and Protocols

Cultural Awareness
Teaching students to be aware of, and developing sensitivity to, cultural difference and cultural diversity involves knowledge, attitudes and values that demonstrate an openness and respect for other people and other cultures, languages, religions, dress, communication styles.

Country
The term 'Country' in First Nations communities is similar to a country like Australia or New Zealand as defined geographically across the world. For First Nations peoples of Australia, 'Country' refers to the many different Aboriginal nations that span across the Australian continent, including Tasmania and the Torres Strait Islands and the Tiwi Islands for thousands of years before colonisation and still exist today. And it is up to us, and all future generations to ensure the continued existance of Country across this diverse land.

Naming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
In the naming of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples we can use the following commonly supported terms – Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Indigenous and First Nations. Such terms however are non-Indigenous communications. Where it is known the preferred term for naming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Communities should be used from that part of country. As an example, the Gadigal People are the Traditional Owners of country in the Sydney city region and the Kaurna People are the Traditional Owners of country in the Adelaide where our two main offices are located. You can easily research your part of country to find this information if you are unaware.

It is not appropriate to use terms such as ‘the Aborigines’, it is appropriate to use terms such as Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal nations or Aboriginal language groups.

Welcome To Country
A Welcome to Country is an official ceremony performed by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander a senior man or woman Traditional Owner / Elder originating from the Country the event is held upon. A Welcome to Country is delivered at the commencement of the event before all other matters. The Welcoming Ceremony continues the long-held tradition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups in welcoming all visitors to the land that they are on out of respect for that country, the peoples of that country, the sacred customs, rules and lore that govern that country.

Acknowledgement To Country
An Acknowledgment of Country is a way by which all people can express respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their ongoing connection with Country

There may be times when a senior traditional owner is not available to deliver a Welcome To Country. An Acknowledgment of Country can be delivered in its place at school events, fairs, sporting events, formal functions, meetings, lectures, seminars, forums, workshops and anywhere there is a gathering of participants. This includes virtual events where all parts of Country should be acknowledged if possible. On such occasions, an Aboriginal person not from that part of Country can deliver the Acknowledgement To Country or the School Principle, Headmaster, Chair or Speaker may begin by acknowledging that the event is taking place on the lands of the Traditional Owners.

Your Acknowledgment of the Aboriginal People, Traditional Owners and Country shows your appreciation of the importance the land and traditions are to local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Your Acknowledgement also expresses commitment to work in partnership with local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples to protect traditional land, culture and history.

Smoking Ceremony
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples practice smoking ceremonies for the cleansing of bad karma and spiritual healing. Smoking Ceremony may promote good health and well-being through the use of many different ecalyptus trees, semi-dried leaves being burnt to create the smoke. They are an integral part of connecting people to their land and of protecting them from the influence of powerful and ancient ancestral beings whom have roamed the earth since to times of creation. Smoking ceremonies can also be a way of connecting with country by speaking to and acknowledging the ancestors or old people.

Aboriginal Incursions
What better way to teach students than with our amazing teams of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander facilitators whom love bringing their knowledge, culture and energy to the children and young students.

Our people connect with students and deliver First Nations cultural Immersions they will never forget.

Early Learning Centres and School Incursions

Download Early Learning Centres, School Curriculum and Education Brochures

Corporate, Business, University and Government Incursions

Download Corporate, Business, University Events and Government Brochures

Kaurna Country

The Adelaide Plains is located in Kaurna Country and the Peramangk people are the custodians of the Mount Barker region in the Adelaide hills.

Turrbal and Yuggera

Brisbane is home to the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples while the Gold Coast traditional owners ar the Yugambeh people. Kabi Kabi peoples and the Jinibara peoples belong to the Sunshine Coast.

Eora and Yuin Nations

The Eora Nation are custodians of the Greater Sydney region with Gadigal people custodians of Sydney city and central Sydney Harbour. The Yuin people are caretakers running down the soiuth coast of NSW

Wurundjeri Country

The Wurundjeri people are custodians of the Melbourne. The Wadawurrung live in the regions near Melboune down to Geelong along the penisula
Working with Aboriginal Incursions

Why Work With Aboriginal Incursions

We are a highly experienced events team with a combined 50 years experience of booking and presenting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural education and performance across Australia for all Australians. We strive for excellence at all our events, but in particularly into the Australian Education and School Sector for young students where we can make the biggest impact towards reconciliation.

We hold deadly relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from mobs across Australia including Adelaide (Kaurna), Melbourne (Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung), Brisbane (Turrbal and Yuggera), Sydney (Gadigal and Dhurag of the Eora Nation), Canberra (Ngambri and Ngunnawal), Perth (Whadjuk and Noongar), Darwin (Larrakia)  and many many regional centres.

Acknowledgement

Aboriginal Incursions acknowledges traditional custodians of the lands on which we live and work today and we pay our respects to the elders past, present and emerging. For they hold the memories, the traditions and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contains image or names of people who have since passed away.
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Aboriginal Incursions for School Curriculum