Standard Operating Procedure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols for Events

Purpose The ACT Government’s ‘Indigenous Protocols’ recognises the Ngunnawal people as the traditional custodians of the ACT and surrounding region and provides the policy for a ‘Welcome to Country, and Acknowledgement of Country’.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols Policy and related Standard Operating Procedures provide ACT Health staff with the appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols to be used when preparing and organising for ‘A Welcome to Country and/or Acknowledgement of Country and/or an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony’.

Scope This Standard Operating Procedure applies to: • All ‘Welcome to Country and/or ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ and/or Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony’ arrangements undertaken by ACT Health; and • Includes all meetings, events and forums with external stakeholders; public speeches prepared for major launches of ACT Health policies and programs; conferences held or sponsored by ACT Health; international events held in Australia of which ACT Health is an organiser or sponsor; and award/s or other significant ceremonies such as the opening of ACT Health facilities.

Out of Scope Arrangement of all other cultural healing and cleansing practices that require sensitive consultation with individual families, patients or clients to determine the appropriate cultural practice, are not covered in this Policy and Standard Operating Procedure. Staff should discuss with family members whether there are any cultural protocols they want to arrange.

Procedure

Contact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit for assistance in following the processes outlined below.

1. Wel c o me t o C o u n t ry Arranging for a Welcome to Country to be made at an official event where members of the public, representatives of other Governments and/or media are present requires: • Contacting a Ngunnawal Elder or traditional custodian to provide details of the event (time and location), confirm their availability to provide the Welcome to Country which is a traditional custom of welcoming people onto the land, and is made at the commencement of proceedings; • Negotiating remuneration with the Ngunnawal Elder or traditional custodian; and preparing a 3-4 minute speech highlighting the significance of the event; • Ensuring that the official speech made by ACT Health representative provides a direct response to the Welcome to Country and acknowledges that the event is taking place on the land of the Ngunnawal people; and • Organising travel to and from the event for the Ngunnawal Elder or traditional custodian and ensuring remuneration is paid on receipt of an appropriate invoice.

1 .1 R em un er a t i o n Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples providing cultural services such as the Welcome to Country should be appropriately remunerated for their cultural knowledge. As a general indicator, $350 for a Welcome to Country is appropriate.

2. A ck no w le d geme n t o f C o un t ry Arranging for an Acknowledgement of Country requires: • Ensuring that an Acknowledgement of Country is included in public speeches prepared for representatives of ACT Health that acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land, the Ngunnawal people; • Ensuring that an Acknowledgement of Country and response to a Welcome to Country by an Ngunnawal Elder and/or traditional custodian is provided by representatives of ACT Health; and • An Acknowledgement of Country by the most senior ACT Health delegate at the commencement of meetings, events and forums with external stakeholders when a Welcome to Country has not taken place.

An example of an acknowledgement that can be used: • I/We wish to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we are meeting on, the Ngunnawal people. I/We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and connections to the land. I/We would also like to acknowledge and welcome other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who may be attending today’s event.

3. A bo rigi n al Sm o k i n g C er e m on y Arranging for an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony requires: • Understanding that it is a traditional spiritual healing practice that cleanses and refreshes the land (and what is on the land) in particular areas where ‘grief and loss’ are significant. The Ceremony also asks ancestors to help release ‘lost spirits’, heal the area and the people involved; • Noting that preparing for the ceremony takes time and involves collecting ochre and leaves from the land and that, following the ceremony, the ashes and leaves are buried on the land where the cleansing has taken place. Therefore it is important that early notification is given to those performing the ceremony; • Contacting an Aboriginal group that is recognised by the United Ngunnawal Elders Council (UNEC) to conduct the ceremony. Wiradjuri Echoes Consulting Pty Ltd located in the ACT has conducted smoking ceremonies for ACT Health; • Considering the timing for the ceremony which includes three main parts: a Welcome to Country (3-4 minutes), the smoking ceremony, and the celebration through corroboree (20-30 minutes); and • Noting that an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony is often conducted outside buildings, but can also be conducted within a building which will require arranging for the management of security/fire control.

3 .1 R em un er a t i o n Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples providing cultural services and/or cultural knowledge such as an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony should be appropriately remunerated.

As a general indicator, approximately $1,000 for an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony is appropriate.

4. A bo rigi n al a n d To rres S t r ait Isla n d er H eal t h U n i t The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Unit, Policy and Government Relations Branch can be contacted for any further advice and assistance related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, consultation and engagement and contacting key community stakeholders.

Evaluation Outcome Measures • ACT Health demonstrates awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols that relate to a Welcome to Country, Acknowledgement of Country and Smoking Ceremony.

Method • All speeches prepared for ACT Health representatives are monitored to ensure protocols for a Welcome to Country and Response or Acknowledgement of Country are included and appropriate; • All arrangements for a Smoking Ceremony ensures the use of appropriate protocols; and • Evaluation of the Policy and related Standard Operating Procedures will be undertaken by Communications and Marketing Unit and provided to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Coordination Group.

Related Legislation, Policies and Standards Policies • ACT Government Indigenous Protocols – Chief Minister and Cabinet Directorate • ACT Government ACT Health Reconciliation Action Plan 2012-2015 • ACT Government ACT Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols for Events

Standards ACT Government Indigenous Protocols – Chief Minister and Cabinet Directorate.

References • ACT Government ACT Health Reconciliation Action Plan 2012-2015 ht t p : // h eal t h .a c t .g o v.a u / h eal t h- servi c e s / a bo r igi n al -to r res - s t rai t - isla nd e r / i n fo rm a t i o n/ re c on c ilia t i o n- a c t i o n -p l an Disclaimer: This document has been developed by ACT Health , specifically for its own use. Use of this document and any reliance on the information contained therein by any third party is at his or her own risk and ACT Health assumes no responsibility whatsoever.