Aboriginal woman reveals why she hates Australia’s Welcome to Country
Aboriginal woman reveals why she hates Australia’s Welcome to Country
- Tribal Aboriginal woman ‘hate’ Welcome to Country
- Aunt Narelle said she ‘never felt welcome’
A tribal Aboriginal woman has revealed why she hates Australia’s ‘Welcome to Country’ word being read before public events.
Aunt Narelle McRobbie spoke about her thoughts in a video question on ABC’s Monday night Q+A program broadcast from the Garma Festival in the Northern Territory’s Arnhem Land.
“I’m an Indigenous Aboriginal woman and I hate the Welcome to Country,” she said.
“As a tribal person, why? Welcome every other b*****d to the land as I, as an Aboriginal person, have never felt welcome on my property.
“On my own dirt, never felt welcome.”
“Welcome everyone to keep taking, taking, taking, taking. What do you think?’ she asked.
Native American woman Aunt Narelle McRobbie (pictured) expressed her hatred of the “Welcome to Country” affirmation during a video question taped for an episode of ABC’s Q+A program
Indigenous journalist and writer Ben Abbatangelo, who was one of the show’s panellists, noted that the recognition has been embraced in parliament.
“We welcome countries in Canberra for policymakers to then introduce ration cards or fund fossil fuel companies against the wishes of indigenous peoples,” he said.
He used an example from the Santos gas project, which was met with opposition from traditional owners Larrakia and Tiwi in the Northern Territory.
“I like the way she’s reworded it and I think it takes very little thought. Maybe it’s time we stopped being so hospitable,” he added.
Voice architect and Indigenous studies professor, Marcia Langton, who was another panellist, referred to the discrimination Aboriginal people face.
“I think a lot of Aboriginal people across the country don’t have their land rights and are dealing with the kind of racism our interlocutor in North Queensland would face… rights in her own country,” she said.
Voice architect and Indigenous studies professor, Marcia Langton (pictured), spoke in her answer to the question about Aboriginal people’s lack of land rights and racism
Welcome to Country practices have grown significantly over the last decade, everywhere from the workplace and seminars to national sporting events (stock image)
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said there was a ‘much bigger message’ in Aunt Narelle’s question.
“If First Nations people don’t want to welcome, they have a choice to say no when invited or asked,” she said.
Mr Abbatangelo agreed with the point that indigenous peoples don’t have to welcome if they don’t want to.
“I mean, how unworthy is that, to think you have an obligation to provide safe passage, to welcome people, when you don’t even feel safe or sane on your own soil, when you’re being trampled?” he added.
A Welcome to Country can only be performed by traditional owners or managers of the land on which an event is taking place. In circumstances where a traditional owner is not available, a recognition of the land may be performed instead.
According to Reconciliation Australia, an acknowledgment of the country ‘must be issued at important/major internal meetings or meetings with external participants’.
It is intended to emphasize the area’s significance to First Nations people.
Welcome to Country practices have grown significantly over the last decade, everywhere from the workplace and seminars to national sporting events.