The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #168402 Message #4095623
Posted By: Sandra in Sydney
02-Mar-21 - 01:18 AM
Thread Name: Mudcat Australia-New Zealand Songbook
Subject: RE: Rise Up Mudcat Songbook - Australia
It is normal in Australia to start many events (govt or other) with a spoken acknowledgement of Aboriginal ownership of the land. Deb is a Choir Director, singer & songwriter.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Words, music and arrangement: Deb Jones 2015
We acknowledge the traditional owners of this land The Gadigal and Wangal of the nation of Eora And other first Australians who’ve made this place their home And any actions done in our name that had them leave the land that’s in their bones With things done in our name they left the land that’s in their bones. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land The ones the country walks in; the holders of the stories We pay respect to elders past and present, and all indigenous here We pay our respects We acknowledge injustices done in our name We acknowledge Was, is, always will be We are more than sorry We will speak out. We will speak out. We will speak out We will speak. We will not turn, No! We acknowledge this land is Aboriginal Land!
NOTE: The intention is that the words “The Gadigal and Wangal of the nation of Eora” be replaced when necessary with the names of the appropriate groups and countries, according to where the song is to be sung. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The acknowledgement of Aboriginal ownership of the land is set to music as an alternative to a spoken introduction.
Deb’s comments on the song: “Solidarity Choir often find ourselves singing first at gigs, and I like to acknowledge the traditional owners. I’d often off-handedly thought ‘we should be singing this’. We already share one indigenous song about land rights with our audiences. The choir were on the lookout for a song that gave voice to how we as non-indigenous Australians feel about what’s been going on. So I decided it was time I gave the Acknowledgement a shot. It could have become a much longer song with so many issues, but I wanted something we could put upfront every gig. It’s an acknowledgement and a promise, really. We acknowledge that we’re standing on Aboriginal land. We acknowledge injustices done in our name to the Aboriginal people of this country, and we will step up and speak out.”