Welcome to country
Okay, imagine you're going to a new place like your friend's house where you're going to play. Before you start playing, your friend's mom or dad might say, "Welcome to our house!" It's a nice greeting that says they're happy you're there and that you're welcome to play.
Well, when people visit Australia, they might hear someone say, "Welcome to Country!" and that's a bit like the welcome you might get at your friend's house. In Australia, there were lots of different tribes of Indigenous people living on the land before anyone else got there. Even though there are fewer Indigenous people now, their culture is still really important to them, and they want to make sure other people know about it and respect it.
So when someone says "Welcome to Country," it's like they're saying, "Welcome to the land where our people have lived for thousands of years. We're happy you're visiting, but we want you to know that this land is special to us, and we want you to respect it." Sometimes, an Elder or a traditional owner of the land might give a speech or sing a special song as part of the Welcome to Country, and that's a bit like your friend's mom or dad giving you a tour of their house or telling you where things are.
So, "Welcome to Country" is a way that Indigenous people in Australia welcome visitors to their land and remind them to be respectful and mindful of the history and culture of the land.
Well, when people visit Australia, they might hear someone say, "Welcome to Country!" and that's a bit like the welcome you might get at your friend's house. In Australia, there were lots of different tribes of Indigenous people living on the land before anyone else got there. Even though there are fewer Indigenous people now, their culture is still really important to them, and they want to make sure other people know about it and respect it.
So when someone says "Welcome to Country," it's like they're saying, "Welcome to the land where our people have lived for thousands of years. We're happy you're visiting, but we want you to know that this land is special to us, and we want you to respect it." Sometimes, an Elder or a traditional owner of the land might give a speech or sing a special song as part of the Welcome to Country, and that's a bit like your friend's mom or dad giving you a tour of their house or telling you where things are.
So, "Welcome to Country" is a way that Indigenous people in Australia welcome visitors to their land and remind them to be respectful and mindful of the history and culture of the land.