Reconciliation
Wominjeka (Hello)
Its National Reconciliation Week here in Australia, “a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.”
In the spirit of the moving towards achieving reconciliation I felt it was appropriate to take a deviation from my usual scale-up musings to acknowledge country and to share a little about what I’ve learned this week. If it’s not your jam that’s ok, feel free to tune out until next month when I’ll be back to my usual scale-up related content.
You might ask - what is an acknowledgement of country? I’m no expert, but I’ll attempt to relay an analogy that was shared with me this week by an amazing human named Rhys Paddock an Aboriginal educator and illustrator based in Wudjuk Noongar country (Perth WA).
Imagine you’ve just been invited into somebody’s home. After being shown around you’d likely thank them for inviting you in and engage in conversation about their home and family. Acknowledgement of country is akin to that; respectfully thanking the traditional custodians for accepting you into their land and acknowledging their mob.
So here’s my first public attempt at AOC.
Hi, I’m Shane. I’m 4th generation Australian of Welsh/Scottish decent. I grew up in a suburb of Sydney on the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation nestled between the Sydney CBD and Ka-may (Botany Bay). It’s a place I hold dearly, especially the beaches around Mooroobra, Bobroi, and Boondi (Maroubra, Coogee, and Bondi) and the Harbour; particularly Kogarah (Rushcutters Bay).
I’d like to acknowledge you for taking the time to read my blogs. I hope you find them entertaining or at the very least, informative.
I’m writing to you from the lands of the Wurundjeri Willum people of the Kulin nation, 22km north of Naarm (Melbourne) in a town named South Morang; the word Morang is derived from the local Woi Wurrung language meaning ‘sky’ or ‘cloud’. This place is important to me because its where my family begins its journey. We are privileged to enjoy the area around the Plenty River abundant with various fish and birdlife where many sacred sites remain that were once used to hold cultural ceremonies and conduct business and trade negotiations.
I’d like to offer my respects to Elders past, present and the emerging leaders of the Wurundjeri Willum people, the traditional custodians of the land on which I live and from where I run my scaleup advisory practice. I’d also like to acknowledge your elders from wherever in the world you’re reading this; without whom we wouldn’t have crossed paths and I wouldn’t be sharing this with you.
If you’re interested in learning a little more about Acknowledgement of Country and how to craft your own (rather than read from a script) then check out Rhy’s and Emma’s website https://www.acknowledgethis.com.au
Until next blog – Guwayu (which means ‘in a little while’, ‘later’ or ‘after some time’).