Aboriginal Cultural Protocols 2010

Wagga Wagga City Council Aboriginal Cultural Protocols 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................4 PRINCIPALS OF CULTURAL PROTOCOLS...............................................................4 ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES AND CULTURE................5 THE STOLEN GENERATION......................................................................................6 BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AREA..................................................................................7 RESPECTING TRADITIONAL PROTOCOLS..............................................................8 ELDERS.......................................................................................................................8 GENDER PROTOCOLS...............................................................................................8 ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY CONSULTATION............................................................8 GETTING PERMISSION..............................................................................................9 WELCOME TO COUNTRY..........................................................................................9 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY....................................................................10 SMOKING CEREMONY.............................................................................................10 FEES FOR SERVICE.................................................................................................10 CONSULTATIONS GROUPS..................................................................................... 11 SIGNIFICANT DATES FOR THE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY.................................. 11 Australia Day / Survival Day.............................................................................. 11 Harmony Day..................................................................................................... 11 National Sorry Day.............................................................................................12 Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum................................................................12 National Reconciliation Week............................................................................12 Mabo Day...........................................................................................................12 Naidoc Week......................................................................................................13 Human Rights Day.............................................................................................13 FLAGS........................................................................................................................14 GENERAL..................................................................................................................15

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INTRODUCTION Wagga Wagga City Council acknowledges the Wiradjuri people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land and pays there respect to Elders past and present. Wagga Wagga City Council has a long history and association with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities within and around the Wagga Local Government Area (LGA). Council values it culturally diverse community and is committed to the principals of Reconciliation. Council supports theses principals by working consistently in partnership with its local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and broader communities always ensuring that the process is based on respect, trust and a spirit of openness.

This document is to provide the community and council with a reference point to understanding the importance of protocols when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures and is designed to be an instrumental guide to understanding Aboriginal Peoples, their culture and their lifestyles.

The aim of this document is to provide a comprehensive user-friendly resource for Council and community members in the use of appropriate protocols for the NSW Aboriginal region, and is also a resource for Councillors and Council staff on the appropriate methods and behaviours required to liaise, consult and engage with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community. Cultural Respect is the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Cultural Respect is about shared respect. Cultural Respect is achieved when there is a safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to express their cultural identity and where cultural differences are respected.

Observing these protocols means taking into account mannerisms or actions that demonstrate a respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, cultures and continued connection to country. Cross cultural engagement requires patience, understanding and a commitment form all parties.

Wagga Wagga City Council makes the commitment to ensure best practice when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and has adopted a “Statement of Commitment to Indigenous Australians� as part of the organisations corporate plans and annual reporting.

Wagga Wagga has a unique aboriginal history in that it was a place of resettlement for The Stolen Generation. This has resulted in Wagga being home to Aboriginal people from across the country as well as the Wiradjuri people.

PRINCIPALS OF CULTURAL PROTOCOLS Wagga Wagga City Council firmly believes in providing culturally appropriate services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and our Cultural Protocols are an important part of that as it refers to the customs, laws and codes of behaviours that we are committed to. Protocols are an important part of all cultures and are in place to ensure people behave and interact in an appropriate manner.

Observing Cultural Protocols of a community demonstrates respect for the cultural traditions, history and diversity of that community. It illustrates a willingness to acknowledge that the processes and procedures of one cultural community are equally 4

valid and worthy of the same respect as one’s own cultural protocols.

This document outlines the principal framework for understanding, respecting and engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, cultures and heritage through •

Respect;

•

Indigenous Control; and

•

Communications, consultations, consent and confidentiality.

ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLES AND CULTURE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are distinct from each other both ethnically and culturally. While there are some similarities between the cultural protocols of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islanders, it is important to remember that the history, culture and traditions of each, are unique and differentiate between States and Territories.

This document focuses on some of the cultural protocols that are relevant to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The protocols in this document are intended as a guide only and do not reflect the total diversity amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. For this purpose, it is always important to check and verify questions or issues regarding procedure with Wagga Wagga City Council’s Aboriginal Development Officer.

There are over 70 different language groups represented in NSW, part of the 250 plus languages that existed across Australia at the time of colonisation. Presently there are many of these languages that are no longer spoken fluently however many Aboriginal people continue to identify with their ancestral language groups and the “Country” (traditional areas of the language group) that they originate from. Aboriginal people throughout different regions of Australia have some broad terms of reference by which they identify with. As discussed above there are a large number of Aboriginal people living in areas in which is not their original homelands. Even if Aboriginal people live outside their community or interstate they may still use these terms to identify their origins. Some of these terms are: New South Wales Koori/Koorie (General Term) South East/ North East North West/ Western Central West

Koori / Goori Murri/ Murdi Koori / Murri

Queensland Murri (General Term) South East Western Far Nth Qld / Cape York Torres Strait Islands

Murri Murdi Bama Torres Strait Islanders generally do not identify with any of the above terms.

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Northern Territory Nth East Arnhem Land Central Australia

Yolnu Anangu

Western Australia Nyoongah (General Term) South West North West

Nyoonah Yamitji

South Australia

Nunga

Victoria

Koorie/Koori

Tasmania

Palawa

The above terms are used by Aboriginal people when referring to themselves and are generally not appropriate to be used by non-Aboriginal people. Permission and/or acceptance to use these terms by non-Aboriginal people must be attained from the relevant person, group or community. It is however appropriate to use these terms when referring to specific names such as “Koori Mail”, “Koori Radio” etc.

THE STOLEN GENERATION The Stolen Generation are the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were removed as children from their families, through official government policy from 1909 to 1969. The practice also occurred before the recognised official period and continued afterwards with churches, welfare bodies and governments all taking part.

In 1883 the NSW Government established the Aboriginal Protection Board SPB (later Aboriginal Welfare Board, AWB) but did not obtain legal powers until 1909. The board received control over nearly all aspects of Aboriginal people’s lives, including the power to remove Aboriginal children with parental consent or a court order.

Under the assimilation and White Australia policies there was strong encouragement for Aboriginal people of mixed ancestry to assimilate into white society. The prevailing, though ignorant thoughts at the time were that Aboriginal people were an inferior race that could be genetically bred out and would eventually disappear.

Children were taken and placed in institutions and around the 1940’s and 1950’s onwards were also placed with white and other non-Aboriginal families. The children were placed in these circumstances with the intention of them being brought up as “white” while being taught to reject their Aboriginality. Many people believed they had “good intentions” being guided by those who supported removalist policies, but with little knowledge or respect for Aboriginal people. The general belief at the time, though fundamentally wrong, was that Aboriginal peoples lives were poor and Aboriginal parents were bad parents neglectful of their children.

How many children were taken may never be known, as records have been lost or have been deliberately destroyed. Many children and parents never saw each other again, with many families trying to re-connect the pieces. Even today there are many 6

Stolen Generation people who many not know where they come from or who their relatives are.

The Bringing them Home Report tabled in Federal Parliament on 26 May 1997 outlined the devastating impacts that child removal practises had on the children, their families and even whole communities. The report discusses the all too common appalling treatment inflicted upon the children and the ongoing impacts for not only these children, but their families and subsequent generations. It is estimated that close to 100,000 if not more, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been and continue to be affected in some way by removalist policies.

It is important to acknowledge that for many people the affects of removal policies are ongoing and have impacts on their daily lives, the effects being different each person and more acute for some. In addition the ongoing anxiety resulting from removal and assimilation polices have left many Aboriginal people feeling suspicious of all levels of government, government facilities and agencies. An example of this at a Local Government level may be some Aboriginal people’s hesitation or intimidation in using facilities such as the libraries or the swimming pools.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AREA The Traditional owners of this area are the Wiradjuri people whose traditional land was bordered by the Lachlan, Macquarie and Murrumbidgee rivers in Central New South Wales. The name Wiradjuri means, ‘people of the three rivers’ and traditionally these rivers were the primary source of food for the Wiradjuri people.

The Wagga Wagga area has approximately twice the national average of Aboriginal population (4.1% compared to a state average of 2.1%). It is the traditional home of the Wiradjuri people but for many years has been an official government resettlement area for Aboriginal people of different areas. Wagga Wagga has remained a resettlement area since the arrival of Dutch refugees after the Second World War. More recently refugees have arrived from backgrounds as diverse as Africa, Afghanistan, former Yugoslavia and the Middle East, giving Wagga Wagga one of the richest cultural tapestries of this nation and the opportunity to be an exemplum community in the promotion of reconciliation and cultural acceptance.

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RESPECTING TRADITIONAL PROTOCOLS The terminology Traditional Owners is used to describe the original identified Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander group who inhabited an area of land at the time of European colonisation. Traditional Owners in a current context refers to the descendents of the identified original inhabitants of the area, having a spiritual and cultural connection to the land and waters of their ancestors.

ELDERS From a traditional Aboriginal cultural perspective, Elders were members of the community who had been through various levels of initiations, and who had learned levels of sacred knowledge of their people. In addition Elders were the custodians and instructors their people’s traditional knowledge and customs. The Elders held the responsibility to provide guidance on all matters as well as make decisions on the ceremonial and cultural obligations of their people. Furthermore Elders held the knowledge of their people’s history, kinship systems, and cultural lore (equating to European Law) that governed their community. The term Elder did not always refer to men and woman who are over fifty or sixty years old. Relatively young people (30’s and 40’s) may have been given the status of Elder due to them having a highly respected position in their community. The recognition was connected to specific skills and knowledge that they may have possessed, in areas which increased their status or position of respect.

GENDER PROTOCOLS There are many matters where the Aboriginal community observe some knowledge as sacred or specific to either men or women. Quite often this is information is of a sacred nature and is transmitted specifically in the presence of appropriate men or women.

This knowledge in a recorded form is frequently restricted and can only be accessed by the appropriate men or women. The terms used to describe these protocols are commonly referred to as “Men’s Business” and “Women’s Business”.

Councillors and Council officers need to be mindful that such matters exist and should always seek Aboriginal peoples advice when these issues may occur about methods to manage these matters.

ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY CONSULTATION Aboriginal Community Consultation is a process where the Aboriginal community representative can openly share information about significant matters that may impact on the Aboriginal community, culture, heritage and traditional lore. The community consultation process aids the Council in becoming aware of the views, beliefs and sensitivities of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. Achieving satisfactory outcomes from consultation involves forming strong relationships with the Aboriginal Community with the fundamental principle of respect and readiness to learn share and negotiate. Through these relationships Councillors and Council Officers can inform and learn from the Aboriginal community in an accountable and honest way 8

and raise awareness of the Council’s business, initiatives or decisions involving the community.

When consulting with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community it is important to utilise appropriate and culturally sensitive consultative approaches. It would be beneficial for Council Officers to seek advice from Aboriginal community representatives and the Council’s Aboriginal Community Development Officer on the most effective consultative methods. Guidance should also be sought from the most recent Council’s Community IAP2 engagement to identify appropriate consultative tools and levels of participation which will depend on the strategic or operational level required.

Generally it is advisable to consult with as many Aboriginal community representatives as possible, especially on matters that are significant or have a high impact on the Aboriginal Community. It is also highly advisable to ensure that Traditional Owner stakeholder groups are specifically consulted, as a point of respect and so their perspectives are recognised. Undertaking this method will reduce the potential for missed input from community members during the consultation process, and reduce future criticism from those feeling they should have been consulted.

GETTING PERMISSION Before work begins on any Council project that has implications for the Aboriginal community or relates to Aboriginal culture and heritage matters it is important to seek appropriate permission. It is important to build strong relationship with local Aboriginal organisations that can be consulted in regard to the correct method in gaining appropriate permission. Furthermore it is highly important to recognise that Aboriginal people have the right to have ownership of their history and cultural knowledge and will continue to do so into the future.

WELCOME TO COUNTRY A Welcome to Country is where the Traditional Aboriginal Custodians welcome people to their Land. Steps should be taken to ensure that the appropriate representative is invited to perform the Welcome because it is a significant recognition and a formal process.

Welcome to Country should always occur in the opening ceremony of the event in question, preferably as the first item. The Welcome to Country is conducted by a representative/s of the local Aboriginal Custodians who welcome the delegates and all in attendance.

A Welcome to Country may consist of a single speech by the representative of the local Aboriginal Community, or it may also include a performance of some description.

Performances may include a Traditional Welcoming Song, a Traditional dance and a Didgeridoo performance or a combination of any of the above.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY An Acknowledgment of Country is a means by which all people can show respect for Aboriginal culture and heritage and the ongoing relationship the Traditional Custodians have with their Land.

An Acknowledgment of Country would be used at minor functions such as meetings, In-house training, workshops and seminars. On such occasions a Chair or Speaker may begin by Acknowledging that the meeting is taking place in the Country of the Traditional Custodians. For example: “I would like to acknowledge the Wiradjuri people who are the Traditional Custodians of the Land that we are meeting on today. I would also like to pay my respect to the Elders both past and present of the Wiradjuri Nation and extend that respect to other Aboriginal people who are present today”.

At major functions such as conferences, naming and opening ceremonies, exhibitions, festivals and other functions where official guests and dignitaries are in attendance it is important that an Elder be asked to conduct the “Welcome”. In addition other welcoming activities such as music and dance may be used under the direction of the Elder.

SMOKING CEREMONY A smoking ceremony is conducted to cleanse the place where an event or special celebration is to take place of spirits. In some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, a smoking ceremony is used in the burial process to cleanse the burial site to provide safe passage of the deceased spirit to the next world.

FEES FOR SERVICE In recognition of respect, these fees are associated with guest speaking and service provision to support Elders and community groups in carrying out work in the community.

Such fees are applicable to: • Welcome to County • Speeches • Dance Groups • Dance Display Workshops

and

For further enquiries in regards to these services, please contact the Ashmont Community Centre on 6931 3456.

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CONSULTATIONS GROUPS Any documents, policies or information relevant to the local Aboriginal Community for consultation should be first and for mostly go through the following Aboriginal Groups: Marramarra Consultative Committee Wagga Wagga Aboriginal Elders Group Inc Wiradjuri Elders and Community Group Any documents, policies or information relevant to the wider region that pertains to the Wiradjuri Nation should also consult with the above groups and committees as well.

SIGNIFICANT DATES FOR THE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY 26 January

Australia Day/Survival Day

21 March

Harmony Day

26 May

National Sorry Day (Recommendation of the Stolen Generation)

27 May

Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum

May/June

National Reconciliation Week

3 June

Mabo Day

Early July

Naidoc Week

10 December

Human Rights Day

Australia Day / Survival Day Australia Day for most Australians is a day that celebrates the disembarking of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove and the subsequent settlement that would be the colony of NSW and eventually Australia. For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, this day represents the start of a history of invasion, dispossession, removals, cultural destruction and loss of sovereign rights. For the above reason and more, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people refer to Australia Day as Invasion Day. Locally Australia Day has involved respect and recognition of our Aboriginal community.

Wiradjuri Elders are very much a part of this day as key representatives and lead the formalities with the Welcome to Country.

Harmony Day Harmony Day is an initiative stated in 1999 by the Australian Government aimed at creating and promoting harmony, embracing cultural diversity and addressing racism.

Harmony day focuses on building relationships between people and is primarily a community based education program intended to increase our understanding and appreciation for the community we live in. Furthermore, Harmony Day which is held on March 21st is also the United Nations International day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

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National Sorry Day National Sorry Day was established by the National Sorry Day Committee on 26 May 1998, a year after the “Bringing them Home Report” was tabled in Federal parliament.

The report was produced by the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their families. There were 54 recommendations made in the report on a range of issues including establishing the community based National Sorry Day Committee.

The primary aim of Sorry Day is to acknowledge at a national level, the hurt and distress felt by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as a result of removal policies and practices. Wagga Wagga City Council holds an Official Flag Raising to mark “Sorry Day” with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members coming together to observe this occasion.

Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum A day that may not have significant celebrations, the anniversary of the 1967 referendum on 27 May marks an important historical event that initiated meaningful changes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

The 1967 Referendum saw two important changes to the Australian constitution which were: •

To give the Federal Government powers to make uniform laws for Aboriginal people (rather than states making their own laws); and

•

The inclusion of Aboriginal people on the national population census.

This issue is especially significant as past practices denied Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that sense of ownership of their own histories and cultural knowledge.

There can be occasions where permission to undertake certain work may be refused, however there will often be good reason for this. Refusal of permission often may particularly relate to specific issues that might be sacred or taboo, men’s or women’s business or could relate to death customs and beliefs.

National Reconciliation Week National Reconciliation week is held each year beginning on 26 May and ending on 3 June being established in 1996. The main aim of Reconciliation Week is to acknowledge and celebrate the rich history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to discuss reconciliation and to consider ways to address disadvantage faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Mabo Day Mabo Day is the day that marks the anniversary of the historic Native Title case on the 3 June 1992 when the High Court recognised Native Title existed for the Meriam Mir People of Murray Island in the Torres Strait. This judgement was significant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the judgement legally dismissed the idea of “Terra Nullius” The case also recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait 12

Islander people have rights to claiming Crown lands and potentially pastoral leases as Traditional Owners. There was also recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have traditional laws and customs that assert rights over lands and waters which have continued after colonisation and can be recognised by the common law.

Naidoc Week NAIDOC week is held in early July (usually the first full week) each year marked by celebrations that highlight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s culture, history and achievements. In addition the week provides opportunities for all Australians to participate in celebrating Aboriginal communities along with promoting a better understanding of Aboriginal people. NAIDOC stands for the National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration being originally focused on one day, being NAIDOC Day, though the acronym is now used to describe the week.

Throughout Australia local community celebrations take place during the week that have been organised by community groups or organisations, government agencies, local councils, school and workplaces. Wagga Wagga City Council hold a NAIDOC Cultural Festival, which ranges from all different type of events, For more information on the NAIDOC Cultural Festival contact the Aboriginal Development Officer.

Human Rights Day 10 December is the date of celebration for Human Rights Day which marks the anniversary of adoption of the universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. To date the declaration has been translated into 360 languages and is fundamentally important for people around the world, particularly Indigenous people’s in asserting their rights and freedoms.

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Aboriginality The determination of who is Aboriginal and who is not can ONLY be undertaken by Aboriginal people and should never be determined by non-Aboriginal people.

Due to the impacts of colonisation and successive government policies there have been many different ways non-Aboriginal people have identified Aboriginal people.

Presently most Aboriginal communities use criterion which was first proposed at a Federal level, being subsequently adopted by the States.

This definition has been in place since the early 1980’s and is as follows: An Aboriginal person must meet the following three criteria •

To be of Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander decent.

•

Identify themselves as Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander.

•

Be accepted as an Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander person by the community in which they currently (or formerly) live.

Sometimes attempts at confirming identity is a complex and difficult matter, leading to intense discussions. There are occasions where Aboriginal people may not reach consensus about who is an Aboriginal person. However once again these matters are only for Aboriginal people to determine and should not be attempted by non-Aboriginal people.

In addition it is important to acknowledge that it is seen as offensive to question the amount of Aboriginal blood an Aboriginal person may have or to make statements like “you don’t look like a real Aboriginal”. It is also inappropriate to use old fashion terminology such as “half caste”, “quarter caster”, or “full blood”, which is considered racist and highly offensive.

When referring to Aboriginal people, always use the term “Aboriginal” adjoined to people, community etc. this should be consistently used over “Aborigine” which many Aboriginal people feel has associated negative connotations. It is also respectful to use a capital A for the word Aboriginal when being used in the written form.

FLAGS A flag is a country’s way of portraying itself to the rest of the world and their uses can vary. Flags can be a representation of a country’s historical past and can signify the important symbols of the countries values, people and culture. The Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, of which the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have strong symbolic connections, were proclaimed as official flags of Australia under section 5 of the Flags Act 1953 on 14 July 1995.

The Aboriginal Flag was designed by Harold Thomas an artist and member of the Arrernte (Aranda) clan of Central Australia in 1971. Black represents the Aboriginal people, red the earth and their spiritual relationship to the land, and the yellow disk is the sun, the giver of life. The Aboriginal Flag was first raised in the 1971, and adopted nationally in 1972 after it was flown above the Aboriginal “Tent Embassy” in Canberra.

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The Torres Strait Islander Flag symbioses the unity of all Torres Strait Islanders. Its emblazoned with a white Dhari (headdress), the white five pointed star beneath it stand for the five major island groups and the navigational importance of stars to these seafaring people. The green stripes represent the land, black the people, and blue the sea. The flag is attributed to Bernard Namok of Thursday Island and was formally adopted during the 1992 Torres Strait Island Cultural Festival.

Wagga Wagga City Council has Official Flag Raising Ceremonies they are held on National Sorry Day, Apology to the Stolen Generation and NAIDOC Week, Wagga.

Wagga City Council holds a Cultural Festival each NAIDOC Week to celebrate this special event.

In addition, when a Wiradjuri Elder dies, it is a mark of respect, for Wagga Wagga City Council to fly the Aboriginal Flag at half-mast.

GENERAL The Wagga Wagga Art Gallery Indigenous Protocol More detailed procedures are also in place for the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery particularly pertaining to curatorial and touring/exhibition practices.

These procedures were developed as a first point of consideration for engagement, planning and program/service delivery for Aboriginal people. Councillors and Council Staff are encouraged to liaise with Council’s Aboriginal Community Development Officer located in the organisations Community Service Division. This protocol is a guideline to provide the community and council with a reference point to understanding the importance of protocols when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures and is designed to be an instrumental guide to understanding Aboriginal peoples, their culture and their lifestyles.

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