05/07/2023
It's NAIDOC Week! Something I'm really passionate about is ensuring appropriate acknowledgement for our First Nations people every day, and that includes on special occasions and at weddings. I've identified three key ways to honour and acknowledge Country and Traditional Owners at your wedding. 🫶🏼
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures place great importance on kinship, family, community and relationships. Weddings and rituals involving the union of people and the uniting of family and community groups are as important in our First Nations cultures as in other cultures in Australia. There's something beautiful about acknowledging that you are joining a tradition of celebrating kinship that is part of the oldest continuous culture in the world, and you're doing it on the land belonging to that culture's people! It's amazing to think about, really 🖤💛❤️
Whether you're a couple planning your wedding or a celebrant or other vendor, make sure you check that:
1) You've got a Welcome to or Acknowledgement of Country ☑️
2) You include the traditional place name wherever you mention your ceremony or reception location - in the ceremony and on marriage certificates, wedding websites, and invites ☑️
3) Put traditional place names in addresses if you're sending out invites and/or thank you cards ☑️
And don't forget to take care of Country during outside celebrations especially - we are all custodians of this beautiful country and you should always follow the principle of "leave no trace" - don't be that person that uses plastic confetti or releases helium balloons. Protect our environment 🌏
Artwork credit: the incredibly talented Sheri Skeli, the Bidjari woman and contemporary Aboriginal artist behind ❇️
