Welcome to Country

A Welcome to Country is a ritual or formal ceremony performed as a land acknowledgement at many events held in Australia. It is intended to highlight the cultural significance of the surrounding area to the descendants of the particular Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander clan or language group who are recognised as the original human inhabitants of the area. Welcomes are performed by a member of the recognised group. They are sometimes accompanied by traditional smoking ceremonies, music or dance. An Acknowledgement of Country is a similar land acknowledgement ritual performed when a recognised owner is not available to perform the welcome, or the traditional owners are not known.