Aboriginal elder slams local council's removal of 'Acknowledgement of Country' as a 'racist attack' - but they hit back and reveal why the move was made

An Aboriginal elder has called a regional council's decision to dump Acknowledgements to Country' before meetings and on official correspondence as 'racist'.  

However, the councilors who voted to to ditch the tradition have hit back and said their intension is now to acknowledge every elder, irrespective of their cultural background, rather than singling out those who are Aboriginal.

Northern Areas Council, 200km north of Adelaide, earlier this month passed the official motion to drop the ceremony last month. 

But Ngadjuri elder Parry Agius said he was at 'a loss' as to why the ceremony had been removed from council proceedings.

'[I'm] feeling that Ngadjuri people are not wanted in that place, in that region,' Mr Aguis told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

'The reason behind an Acknowledgement is really about acknowledging that there were Aboriginal people before the area was colonised.

'There are Aboriginal people who are now wanting to come back into the region for work, for play, for pleasure, for reconciliation, and now it's dampened that approach.'

Mr Agius emphasised that although an Acknowledgement of Country might occasionally come across as 'bland,' its significance should not be underestimated.

The motion to 'delete the Acknowledgement of Country' was initiated by Councillor Hank Langes and seconded by Councillor John Barberien. Although it was passed, only five voted in favour while four voted against it.

'Our ancestors are in that space and by actually acknowledging the statement, our ancestors are connecting to that statement and the people who are making that Acknowledgement,' Mr Agius said.

'So it's not lost, that relationship is still going.'

Adnyamathanha elder Vince Coulthard also declare the move to dump the acknowledgment as 'racist attack'.

'it's absolutely disgusting that the council that represents the interests of the council's electorate area can just not acknowledge the First Nations people,' he said.

'I think there's no room for reconciliation once this kind of thing happens.'

However, Cr Langes has defended the decision, telling Daily Mail Australia it was 'not a racist attack' and instead an attempt to include all races.

'I wanted to acknowledge every elder, regardless of race, who made this country what it is today. That's all I ever wanted,' he said.

'We're going to discuss this further at the next council meeting where we will acknowledge everybody.

'I agree that we need to acknowledge the past, but not just for one race.'

The decision comes after the overwhelming defeat of the Voice to Parliament and growing criticism that Welcome to Country has become overused in Australia.

South Australians surprised the Yes campaign by overwhelmingly voting against enshrining a Voice to Parliament in the constitution, with 61.47 per cent voting no.

All 10 of its federal electorates also voted No.

A second South Australian council has since voted to stop reading a Welcome to Country at the start of every meeting.

The Playford Council, situated in the northern region of Adelaide, made a decision on Tuesday night to discontinue the practice of verbally reciting an acknowledgement of country. 

Instead, they have opted to feature an 'inclusive' acknowledgement on their website. Additionally, they will reserve the verbal acknowledgement for special events, such as the swearing-in ceremonies of councillors. 

Councillor David Kerrison who introduced the motion said reading an Acknowledgement of Country at every meeting was 'going overboard'.

'I listen to the younger generation who attend university and colleges – it's being read out before every lecture,' Cr Kerrison said.

'I think it's gone a little too far and, for me, I also don't think it's balanced.'

An Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country is seen as an opportunity to show respect to Indigenous culture and Traditional Owners.

By incorporating the ritual into meetings, gatherings and events it reminds Australians they live and work on Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander lands, according to Reconciliation Australia.