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Aboriginal Cultural Immersions Every Week is NAIDOC Week - Engage in Culture Today
Aboriginal Corroboree Aboriginal
Traditional Corroboree encompasses local Indigenous culture, song and dance at spiritual gatherings

Learn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ceremony, Protocols and Cultural Awareness

It is never too late to foster respectful relationships and collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities by incorporating Aboriginal Art and Culture Workshops into your work or event environment. Cultural awareness and understanding can help your team flourish.

As cultural awareness develops, so does respect. With respect comes comprehension. With comprehension comes reconciliation. And with reconciliation, the process of healing begins.

What better way to learn than through fun and educational Aboriginal Art Workshops or Indigenous Didgeridoo, Song and Dance?

Every week is NAIDOC week at Aboriginal Cultural Immersions. Join the Corroboree.

The Purpose of Protocols

Gaining insight into the substantial upheaval inflicted upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples through colonization, land appropriation, and the disconnection of individuals from their families forms a crucial foundation for genuine cultural understanding among all Australians.
 
Fostering deep and ongoing respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, along with their cultures and histories, embeds essential values within your organisation and inspires leaders, colleagues, staff, students, and educators to advocate for and promote reconciliation.
 
Equipping your team or student community with an understanding of cultural protocols will establish ethical principles that will influence the conduct of future generations. The knowledge gained will be taken home by young individuals and woven into their adult lives, aiding in the establishment of a secure future for all Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and non-Aboriginal communities in Australia.

Learn and Understand Aboriginal People Through Indigenous Culture Workshops

Cultural Awareness
Teaching your organisation to be aware of and sensitive to cultural differences and diversity requires information, attitudes, and values that reflect tolerance and respect for the various indigenous peoples, cultures, languages, faiths, dress, and communication styles.

Country
The term 'Country' in First Nations communities is similar to a country like Australia or New Zealand as defined geographically across the world. For First Nations peoples of Australia, 'Country' refers to the many different Aboriginal nations that span across the Australian continent, including Tasmania and the Torres Strait Islands and the Tiwi Islands for thousands of years before colonisation and still exist today. And it is up to us, and all future generations to ensure the continued existance of Country across this diverse land.

Naming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
In the naming of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we can use the following commonly supported terms: Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Indigenous and First Nations. Such terms, however, are non-Indigenous communications. Where it is known, the preferred term for naming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Communities should be used in that part of the country. As an example, the Gadigal People are the Traditional Owners of country in the Sydney city region and the Kaurna People are the Traditional Owners of country in the Adelaide where our two main offices are located. You can easily research your part of the country to find this information if you are unaware.

It is not appropriate to use terms such as ‘the Aborigines’, it is appropriate to use terms such as Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal nations or Aboriginal language groups.
 
Corroboree
The term 'corroboree' was incorporated by British settlers shortly after colonisation, originating from the Dharug language spoken in Sydney. The Dharug term 'garaabara' signifies a form of ceremonial dance.
 
Consequently, it mistakenly became a word in Australian English as 'corroboree.' Today, it is commonly used in Australian terminology to describe any significant assembly of Indigenous individuals.
 
Each Aboriginal group, situated in various regions, possesses its distinct name and style of corroboree. For instance, in the Pilbara, it is referred to as 'yanda' or 'jalarra,' while in the Kimberley, the term 'junba' is used for corroborees.
 
Across Australia, 'corroboree' encompasses local culture, songs, dances, spiritual gatherings, and various meetings among the individual language groups (Mob to Mob).
 
Aboriginal Australians also engage with the Dreaming through song, dance, and sacred rituals. The deep epistemology of the Dreaming represents the belief system of Aboriginal Australians, tracing back to the time before creation when spiritual ancestors formed the world, animals, and humanity. The music and dance performed during traditional ceremonies play a crucial role in transmitting this rich cultural heritage.

Welcome To Country
A Welcome to Country is an official ceremony performed by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, a senior man or woman, Traditional Owner/Elder originating from the Country the event is held upon. A Welcome to Country is delivered at the commencement of the event before all other matters. The Welcoming Ceremony continues the long-held tradition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups in welcoming all visitors to the land they are on, out of respect for that country, its peoples, the sacred customs, rules, and lore that govern it.

Acknowledgement To Country
An Acknowledgment of Country is a way by which all people can express respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their ongoing connection with Country

There may be times when a senior traditional owner is not available to deliver a Welcome To Country. An Acknowledgment of Country can be delivered in its place at school events, fairs, sporting events, formal functions, meetings, lectures, seminars, forums, workshops and anywhere there is a gathering of participants. This includes virtual events where all parts of Country should be acknowledged if possible. On such occasions, an Aboriginal person not from that part of Country can deliver the Acknowledgement To Country or the School Principle, Headmaster, Chair or Speaker may begin by acknowledging that the event is taking place on the lands of the Traditional Owners.

Your Acknowledgment of the Aboriginal People, Traditional Owners and Country shows your appreciation of the importance the land and traditions are to local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. Your Acknowledgement also expresses commitment to work in partnership with local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples to protect traditional land, culture and history.

Smoking Ceremony
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples practice smoking ceremonies for the cleansing of bad karma and spiritual healing. The Smoking Ceremony may promote good health and well-being through the use of many different eucalyptus trees, semi-dried leaves being burnt to create the smoke. They are an integral part of connecting people to their land and of protecting them from the influence of powerful and ancient ancestral beings who have roamed the earth since the time of creation. Smoking ceremonies can also be a way of connecting with the country by speaking to and acknowledging the ancestors or old people.
 

Aboriginal Incursions and Immersions

There is no better method of learning than through our exceptional teams of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander facilitators, who are passionate about sharing their knowledge, culture, and enthusiasm with non-Aboriginal individuals. Our Indigenous leaders engage with your team or student group to provide unforgettable First Nations cultural immersions.
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