From the Tips of the Eucalyptus

A Right of Passage granted by Aboriginal Elders

Welcome to Country

In the old days, there was no separation between a peoples and the land (Country). The mind did not see oneself as separate from the spirits of ancestors or the spirits of trees, birds, water, or landforms. Country was as sacred and as nourishing, as life reborn, each generation.

A new animal moving across a Country was a gift, whereas another peoples, seeking trade or safe passage, came to with gifts and the blessings of their own ancestors. If safe passage was granted, an elder would simply speak it:

From the Tips of the Trees to the Roots of the Earth You are Welcome to All You are Welcome Welcome

Implicit in this Welcome (because ‘everybody’ knew this at the time), was the knowledge of the borders of that country, formed and held by the spirits of the land itself. Also implicit in this Welcome, was the respect for the customs and rules of the peoples of that country; which ‘everyone’ also knew — the way you know the Gods and rules that your neighbors live by, without really knowing why or when you started knowing.

Welcome to Country was never intended for Colonisers.

It is now also said, that there was implicit in this Welcome, the understanding that one would only take what one needed whilst visiting there— And that one wouldn't just wreck the place for fun or anything.

Personally, I don't know if these things would have even have been thought of in the old days. Everyone knew how to survive off the land (you didn't have to carry or store extra), and there were no cart-horses or ships to load up with, anyhow.

In any case, it is a moot point. In those ‘first contacts’ of the old days, when those new peoples arrived, they looked at the First Nations peoples and they did not see people. They saw land and declared it ‘Terra Nullius’ (devoid of people). The rest was a mess — for the First peoples.

On the Eve of Australia Day, AKA — Invasion Day

I am writing this on the eve of Australia Day, the Nation’s national day (which is celebrated/protested on the 26th of January every year). There are people who call it ‘Invasion Day’ because it marks the landing of a fleet of ships. And there are people who want the date (of the national day) changed because of the fleet. To ‘change the date’, would be a symbolic gesture; in acknowledgment of the First Nations peoples of this nation. I do not know if it would be an empty gesture or pointlessly divisive. But for the moment, I will let this argument be, and go back to the Welcome to Country ceremony.

Why ‘Welcome to Country’ is always more than merely symbolic

The Welcome to Country ceremony is now performed, not only amongst Indigenous Australians but also at the beginning of official events and ceremonies, meetings at all levels of government, and within socially-minded institutions and organizations. It is held to pay respects to, and ‘recognize the traditional custodians of the land’.

This, by all rights, should fall into the category of ‘another empty symbolic gesture’. But here's why it doesn't — ‘Welcome to Country’, is always (and can only be) performed by an Aboriginal Elder of that Country.

The first time I encountered the ceremony, was when I started university. Speaking to a large crowd of first-year students, the Elder broke off eucalyptus leaves and passed them around, as she said ‘Welcome, welcome’, with the most beatific smile. There was a pride and dignity in her bearing that had drawn all of me in (I know an Elder when I see one). I was close to her so I got handed a leaf, but I could only smile at her because I was crying. I had started crying at the beginning of her tiny speech, ‘I am __, of the __ people. We are the traditional custodians of this Country’. And at the end of it, when she said ‘Welcome, welcome’, I replied from deep within, and with all my heart — ‘ My ancestors greet yours, Mother. And they thank you, for making me welcome’. But none of this came out. I cried and she held my hand a moment as she gave me a eucalyptus leaf.

I have since attended several Welcome ceremonies, and they never fail to move me. If you're ever traveling this way and want to look into Indigenous culture, heritage, or sacred sites, this is a great book:

This is not an affiliate link. I just like the book. One day, I plan to take the little one (when she’s not so little to care for, but not big enough to drive off and leave me either) on a girl’s’ road trip, visiting some of these places, and at each place, we will ask for a Welcome from an Elder.

Thank you to Trisha Traughber for the Vagabond Voices, writing prompt ‘Rite of Passage’. In Trisha’s own beautiful poem, she asks the question:

Where is the dirt path, the wisdom of elders?

You have to check it out:

And here’s a beautiful piece by Upasana Sharma, telling of her own recognition of Aboriginal culture and Spirituality: