In a historic decision, the Juru people of the Burdekin Shire in Queensland have voted to ban ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremonies on their ancestral land.
The motion was passed on Thursday night, with Juru Elder and Chair of the meeting Randal Ross citing the commercialization and abuse of the ceremony as the main reasons behind this move.
A Ceremony Turned Business
Ross expressed his concerns about the ceremony becoming a lucrative business, with individuals receiving large sums of money for performing it. “We’re only speaking for our country, and that’s why it’s important that we can see it well and truly being abused,” he said in an interview. “It makes us feel embarrassed.”
The Juru Elder highlighted instances where people not connected to the area were performing the ceremony in the Burdekin, solely for financial gain. This has led to the loss of cultural insight and significance of the Welcome to Country ceremony.
The High Cost of Welcome to Country Ceremonies
The Courier Mail reported last month that Queensland councils have been slugged with high fees for Welcome to Country ceremonies. A Brisbane City Council spokeswoman revealed that the council spent $84,711 on these ceremonies at civic events in 2023, and over $50,000 this year.
Backing from Indigenous Leader Warren Mundine
Indigenous leader Warren Mundine has come out in support of the Juru people’s decision to ban Welcome to Country ceremonies. “I support the Juru people’s vote to ban Welcome to Country. A nice, good idea has been overdone,” Mundine said. “It’s like everywhere you go, you have a welcome. On planes, before giving a speech, lectures, events, meetings, sports event, concert, dinner, presentations, breakfast, lunch, dinner, people are getting sick of it.”
Mundine also expressed concerns about the ceremony being used to push political agendas and the questionable authenticity of the people performing the welcome.
A Positive Response from the Burdekin Shire Council
Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Pierina Dalle Court has welcomed the decision, stating that she is “happy” to work with the traditional owners in the region. “It’ll probably be an early Christmas present to a lot of people. I’ve already had some responses from people saying things like finally common sense has prevailed, basically,” she said.
The Mayor also mentioned that she would be communicating with Ross to understand how things would change moving forward, emphasizing the council’s willingness to work with the traditional owners.
A Bold Move Towards Cultural Integrity
The Juru people’s decision to ban Welcome to Country ceremonies is a bold move towards reclaiming their cultural heritage and integrity. It’s a call to action to re-evaluate the significance and authenticity of these ceremonies, and to ensure that they are not being exploited for financial gain.
As the debate around Welcome to Country ceremonies continues, one thing is clear – the Juru people’s stance is a powerful reminder of the importance of cultural sensitivity and respect for Indigenous traditions.