The Wurundjeri and Bunurong Peoples are the Traditional Custodians of land in Brimbank.
Approximately one-third of Brimbank, towards the south, is Bunurong Land, including parts of Sunshine West, Derrimut and Brooklyn. The remainder is Wurundjeri Land. You can view the Traditional Custodians map (PDF, 405KB) to see the boundaries. Enter an address on the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Register and Information System (ACHRIS) to check a particular location.
Acknowledgement of Country
An Acknowledgement of Country names the Traditional Owner group/s as the ongoing Custodians of the land being met on. There are no set protocols or wording for an Acknowledgement of Country, however it's important that an Acknowledgement respectfully recognises the rightful Traditional Owner group/s.
It can be given by both non-Indigenous people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Over the years Acknowledgement of Country has become more commonly used in Australia. There is a growing interest in how organisations respectfully and formally acknowledge Traditional Custodians within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have experienced a long history of exclusion. Incorporating Acknowledgement of Country into official meetings and events is one of the means to recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of land and a way of ending the exclusion that has been so damaging.
Acknowledgements are usually delivered as part of welcome and housekeeping at significant or large internal meetings (weekly or monthly), meetings with external participants, as part of speeches, events and also expressed on behalf of an organisation in different forms of communications, such as email signature blocks, websites, and on social media.
Acknowledgement of Country in Brimbank
We offer the following suggestions for conducting an Acknowledgement of Country in Brimbank. However, you can adjust what you say to provide an Acknowledgement of Country that aligns with your meeting context while acknowledging the rightful Traditional Custodians.
For the whole of Brimbank
For the whole of Brimbank
"Brimbank City Council respectfully acknowledges and recognises the Wurundjeri and Bunurong Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of this land and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and future."
Actual location on Wurundjeri Land (North and Central Brimbank)
Actual location on Wurundjeri Land (North and Central Brimbank)
"I or (Name of Organisation, group) acknowledge/s the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Wurundjeri People, and pay my/our respects to Elders, past and present."
or
"I or (Name of Organisation, group) acknowledge/s the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Wurundjeri People, and pay my/our respects to Elders, past and present. I or (Name of Organisation, group) recognise the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples who contribute to our community and pay my/our respect to the wisdom of Elders, past, present and emerging."
Actual location on Bunurong Land (Southern end of Brimbank)
Actual location on Bunurong Land (Southern end of Brimbank)
"I or (Name of Organisation, group) acknowledge/s the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Bunurong People, and pay my/our respects to Elders, past and present."
or
"I or (Name of Organisation, group) acknowledge/s the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Bunurong People, and pay my/our respects to Elders, past and present. I or (Name of Organisation, group) recognise the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples who contribute to our community, and pay my/our respect to the wisdom of Elders, past, present and emerging."
If you are unsure of phrasing or specific details, we recommend you contact the local Traditional Owners for information. You can also contact our Customer Service Centre or email reconciliation@brimbank.vic.gov.au for more information.
Welcome to Country
A Welcome to Country recognises the continuing connection of Aboriginal Traditional Custodians to their Country.
It occurs at the beginning of a formal event and can take many forms including:
- singing
- dancing
- smoking ceremonies or
- a speech in traditional language or English.
It is delivered by Traditional Custodians, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who have been given permission from Traditional Custodians to welcome visitors to their Country.
A Welcome to Country ceremony should be arranged for major public events, forums and functions in locations where Traditional Custodians have been formally recognised. A welcoming ceremony is also appropriate if the event has broad impact on, or is significant to, Aboriginal people, such as the opening of a new building or as part of Reconciliation Week.
Book a Welcome to Country
Select where you would like to book a Welcome to Country:
Book in Bunurong Land
Registered Aboriginal Parties in Brimbank
The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation are the Registered Aboriginal Parties in Brimbank as per the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council determined the northern part of Brimbank as Wurundjeri Land and the southern part as Bunurong Land.