Anger when the city council scraps the Land Recognition at every meeting and instead pronounces a bizarre two-sentence sentence… so DO YOU think this is better or worse?
A small regional council has sparked controversy by abandoning Land Recognition in favor of a more ‘inclusive’ declaration.
Naracoorte Lucindale Council voted last week to replace the traditional recognition that paid respect to the past and present traditional owners of the ancestral lands in South Australia’s Limestone Coast region.
The opening prayer has also been scrapped following a recent review of council meeting procedures by Mayor Patrick Ross.
Future meetings will begin with a modified acknowledgment: “We recognize and respect our complex history. We welcome everyone to build our future together.”
Reconciliation SA denounced the move, claiming it was an example of the council’s ‘backtracking on progress’.
Cr Ross defended the change and rejected arguments showing a lack of understanding of the significant and important role of First Nations culture.
A municipality’s decision to replace the Recognition of Land has sparked outrage among reconciliation groups. The photo shows participants of the Invasion Day
Reconciliation SA denounced the move, claiming it was an example of the council’s “backtracking on progress.” Pictured is a Welcome to Country performed at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2023
“I was guided by the local government handbook, which makes no mention of recognition to the country,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘It was clear to me that everything we do as a municipality must be inclusive.
“About 25 percent of our community was born abroad in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria, so I didn’t see a need for a prayer.”
Every five years the council reviews its meeting procedures.
Cr Ross said the amended recognition still recognizes and respects the past and present traditional owners of the ancestral lands.
He said he was surprised to hear that his “small regional council”, which serves a population of just under 9,000, had made national headlines.
He emphasized that community feedback had been “incredibly positive,” with the exception of one anonymous letter.
Reconciliation SA has expressed deep disappointment, claiming the council’s move did not reflect the region’s spirit in engaging First Nations people
“When you remove recognitions to nations and elders, you remove visibility and diminish the importance of First Nations in our country’s more than 65,000 years of history,” CEO Jason Downs said.
“The elected members have now established a future plan for division based on a lack of awareness and understanding of the Recognizing Country.
‘Erasing the existence of a culture to keep things simple is not a good position for a region dependent on tourism, nor a reflection on global consciousness and embracing the ESG framework for future investment and growth.’
Naracoorte Lucindale Council has replaced recognition of the country with a more ‘inclusive’ recognition
“When individual ideology impacts a community’s future and business growth, there is reason to be concerned.”
The organization offered to hold a workshop together with the municipality to provide ‘context, advice and perspective’.
Cr Ross said he has yet to personally hear from Reconciliation SA.
“We would love it if Reconciliation SA would make a delegation to one of our meetings,” he said.
Naracoorte Lucindale is the latest of a large number of South Australian councils to change their Recognition of Country to a more inclusive statement at meetings in the wake of the defeat of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum
Northern Areas Council, 200km north of Adelaide, in November became the first to pass a motion to remove official recognition from meetings and official correspondence.
Mayor Patrick Ross (pictured) made the changes following a recent overhaul of meeting procedures