National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Children's Day - August 4th

The 2010 theme, 'Value My Culture, Value Me' is about the need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to know they are loved and valued, and to have every opportunity to nurture and explore a healthy and strong sense of self and community. See here for more details.

 Mary MacKillop Foundation

Are you an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander who would like to go to University? You may be eligible for a scholarship with the Mary MacKillop Foundation. Click here for more details.

Marist Fathers' Aboriginal Education Fund

The Marist Fathers Aboriginal Education fund aims to financially assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students who are studying at one of the Diocese of Lismore's secondary schools. Click here for details on eligibility and how to apply.  

Acknowledgement of Traditional Custodians

Goal

To promote reconciliation and maintain awareness of and respect for the dignity of Aboriginal peoples.

Protocol

The Acknowledgement of traditional custodians is spoken by a non Aboriginal person before the commencement of any meeting or gathering. It is the first words to be spoken and is followed by a short pause. If an Aboriginal person is present their welcome to country takes priority.

Suggested words of acknowledgement of traditional peoples

Choose one of the following 6 ‘acknowledgements of traditional custodians’ for your gathering.

  1. I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the ______ people, and call on the Spirit Ancestors to walk with us today as we share and learn together. (Pause)
  2. We acknowledge the traditional peoples of the land on which we stand. We pay our respects to them for their care of the land. (Pause)
  3. I would like to begin by acknowledging the people, the traditional custodians on whose land this  was built. (Pause)
  4. I acknowledge the living culture of the ______ people, the traditional custodians of the land we stand on, and pay tribute to the unique role they play in the life of this region. (Pause)
  5. I wish to begin by acknowledging that we are in the country of the ________ people.  I pay respect to their tribal elders, I celebrate their continuing culture, and I acknowledge the memory of their ancestors. (Pause)
  6. I would like to acknowledge the ______ people, the traditional custodians of the country on which we are meeting today.  I acknowledge that they have occupied and cared for this country over countless generations and I celebrate their continuing contribution to the life of this region. (Pause)

This acknowledgement could be said together
We acknowledge and pay respect to the _______people as the original and ongoing owners and custodians of this land.  We commit ourselves to actively work alongside indigenous people for reconciliation and justice. (Pause)

Sites for identifying the traditional peoples of local areas

Documenting Democracy - Pathways

Terra Nullius ? The Very Early Years

Source: CLRI (NSW) SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE, Reconciliation Sub-Group