"Welcome to country" ,

acknowledgements and "smoking ceremonies" are not a traditional part of  aboriginal culture.

There were varying ceremonies between tribal groups when they met and needed to interact. That is something that happens all over the world and even within the borders of countries. 

"Welcome to country" however is not that. It is not traditional. If it had been traditional then it would have been around a lot longer than the present "ceremony" has been. I believe it was a previous Prime Minister of this country, one Julia Gillard, who agreed to have one in parliament in order to secure the services of her chosen Speaker.  It helped her form a minority government. 

"Smoking ceremonies" were invented by an actor called Ernie Dingo. He and a fellow actor created the idea in order to welcome the Pacific and Maori athletes to the Traditional Indigenous Games in 1973. There is no "long indigenous history" of such things.

But yesterday there was a fiery exchange in parliament when, having already started the day with an "acknowledgment" one of the Senators tried to include another in her prepared speech. An opposing Senator was heard to mutter something along the lines of "how many times..." and was then called out as being "racist". Was she?

My own view of course is that all these "welcomes", "acknowledgments" and "ceremonies" are altogether too many. What might have once been a good idea has become meaningless. It is just a form of words that has to be said. Those words have less meaning to most than religious prayer or than "all rise" in court or the words of committal at a funeral. It seems they are also becoming less acceptable than the words of the national anthem - and it has to be said that by no means everyone knows the words to our dirge like national anthem. 

We don't need to be welcomed to our own country. I am happy if an airline wants to say something like, "For the locals returning welcome back and to those who are visiting we hope you feel welcome here". I don't want some confected "ceremony". We do not need to start every meeting, even Zoom meetings, with an "acknowledgment". Such statements are meaningless, especially when delivered in a bored monotone. When said that way I actually see it as being disrespectful rather than respectful. It is better not said at all.

I know not everyone agrees with me. There are people who believe that all of the welcomes and acknowledgments are vitally important to "reconciliation" and more. Realistically though they are all too often welcoming and acknowledging people who have more "white" ancestry than "black", whose ancestors are the despised "colonisers".

We should reserve an "acknowledgment" for special, formal occasions. If there is someone present who is a speaker of the local indigenous language then they can be asked to speak a welcome if it is appropriate. Leave it at that. I believe it will have far more impact.