Acknowledgement of Country and the SCEGGS RAP
One of the school goals for SCEGGS in 2022 is to continue working on reconciliation. Many of you are aware that SCEGGS has a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). At SCEGGS we have a staff RAP committee and a student RAP committee.
At the start of this year, we have put a focus on Acknowledgement of Country. Traditionally, both Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country protocols have been used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as part of a process of ensuring safe passage and respectful conduct while on Country. This protocol has been used for over 65,000 years. Welcome to Country is given by an Elder, Traditional Custodian, or recognised spokesperson of the local Aboriginal community. It is given to open proceedings at an event by welcoming you to Country (the land you are on). In contrast, an Acknowledgment of Country is said when people visit Country. It is said as a mark of respect and may be said by an Indigenous or non-Indigenous person.
It is hoped that at SCEGGS we will continue to develop our understanding of the significance of acknowledging Country. SCEGGS staff and students are continuing to learn how to write these Acknowledgements, so that they can be used in meetings, classes and at other appropriate gatherings. Many have been written already.
The Primary School has a plaque with their Acknowledgement of Country.
The following Acknowledgement has been on the Vivi screen in each classroom.
Year 7 wrote this Acknowledgement and then used it at their Year meeting:
I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and extend my respect to Elders past, present and emerging, on whose land most of us meet today. I continue to recognise your connection with the land, sea and community in this Country. I stand by you and support you in your fight for equality. I am grateful for the opportunities your land has provided us and I will continue to educate myself and listen to your community to better the lives of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
One Form class in Year 8 wrote:
8Cg would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather and from whom we continue to learn – the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation.
We are grateful to be able to learn more about such a rich culture that has continued for over 65,000 years and we pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. We appreciate the opportunity to learn from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within our school community.
We apologise for the injustices that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to face, and we honour the resilience and strength that continue within communities today. 8Cg is committed to the ongoing journey of reconciliation. We promise to take care of the land, waterways, seas, and wildlife.
We thank you for sharing this land with us.
And the Science Department has written:
The SCEGGS Science Department acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of this land. They were Australia’s first scientists and innovators. In particular, we pay respect to the Gadigal people who for thousands of years have lived harmoniously in and around Warrane (Sydney Harbour). They have an unbroken connection with the land where we educate our students. We acknowledge the damage done to this land since European settlement. First Nations people have always studied and observed the land, sea and sky to understand and manage resources sustainably. To pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging, we strive to learn from the traditions and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and commit to educating future generations.
If you would like more information about writing an Acknowledgement of Country or the RAP, you can visit the Narragunnawali website.
Jola Cumming and Aileen Grattan-Smith for the SCEGGS RAP Committee
