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Kaur na miyur na, Kaur na yarta, ngadlu tampinthi

Here at Adelaide Fringe, we truly value the act of performing an Acknowledgement of Country. We strongly encourage you to include one at your Fringe event, as it's a wonderful way to show respect and connection.

Contents

What is an Acknowledgement of Country?

An Acknowledgement of Country is a meaningful way to show respect to Traditional Owners and recognise the ongoing connection that First Nations peoples have to their Country. It's important to understand that this is different from a Welcome to Country, which is a formal ceremony delivered specifically by Traditional Custodians of the land.

Who Can Perform an Acknowledgement of Country?

Acknowledgements are generally made at the start of an event or performance. Anyone can deliver an Acknowledgement of Country, regardless of where they are from and whether they are a First Nations person or not. This acknowledgment speaks to the unique position of First Nations people within the context of culture and history, recognising their enduring connection with the land and waters.

If you're keen to engage a Traditional Owner to perform a Welcome to Country, you can find more information in our how-to guide.

How to Perform an Acknowledgement of Country

Before you perform an Acknowledgement of Country, it's a good idea to do a bit of research on the specific Country you're acknowledging. There are over 200 First Nations (or language groups) across Australia today. You can use the AIATSIS map to help you find the Nation or language group where your event is taking place. For more detailed information, you can get in touch with the Traditional Owners in your local area or consult your local council.

There are many ways to deliver an Acknowledgement of Country. It can be spoken, written, or even signed using Auslan. The words can be varied, and you should feel empowered to craft an Acknowledgement in a way that feels personal and specific to the place. Speaking from the heart and using your own words is a really powerful way to show your support and allyship.

You might also want to include a sentence about how First Nations sovereignty was never ceded. This demonstrates an awareness of the rights of First Nations people to the lands and waters of Australia, and that these rights were never 'given up'. This statement acknowledges the history of dispossession and its impact on First Nations people during Australia's foundation.

Where to Find More Information

To dive deeper into Acknowledgements of Country and see some examples, head over to Reconciliation SA. You can also download a pre-recorded Acknowledgement of Country to play at the start of each of your events (more on that below).

Adelaide Fringe truly believes that using traditional First Nations names for places both acknowledges and celebrates the deep connection between First Nations people and the land. It’s a vital step towards recognising First Nations sovereignty and helps to strengthen and regenerate First Languages. We list traditional place names under all registered events on our website, and you can find more information about that here.

Acknowledgement Checklist

  • Name and acknowledge the specific Country/Nation/language group.
  • Identify the Traditional Custodians/Owners and their continued connection to their land/s.
  • Thank the Traditional Custodians/Owners for caring for Country for many thousands of generations.
  • Make your Acknowledgement specific to the place: are you on desert Country? Are you on an island? Are there any sacred sites with traditional names you can mention?
  • Pay respect to the Elders and Ancestors of the Country you are on, and also to any First Nations people present or listening.
  • Recognise that First Nations sovereignty was never ceded. This continent always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Pre-Recorded Acknowledgements You Can Use

We are in the process of re-recording the Acknowledgement of Country soundtracks for the 2026 Fringe.

Please check back in the new year when we will have them uploaded and ready for use.


NOTE: Any previous recordings are no longer in licence and are prohibited from being used. Please delete from your files and check back in for the new recordings soon. 

Summary

  • An Acknowledgement of Country shows respect to Traditional Owners and their ongoing connection to the land, distinct from a formal Welcome to Country.
  • Anyone can deliver an Acknowledgement, speaking from the heart and making it personal to the specific place.
  • Researching the Country you are on is encouraged, and you can also acknowledge that First Nations sovereignty was never ceded.
  • Adelaide Fringe offers pre-recorded Acknowledgements for Kaurna Country that you can use for your events.

Additional Resources