Ceremony is a broad term for the cultural practices, including smoking ceremonies, Welcome to Country, dance, song and story, that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples use to mark significant moments, maintain law and kinship, and connect people to Country. Ceremony isn’t performance for an audience; it’s a living practice, carried and adapted with cultural authority across generations.
They’re often confused, but they’re different practices:
Getting this distinction right matters because these are sacred, living cultural practices, not costumes or performances to be recreated without cultural authority. Schools and organisations engaging with ceremony should always work with local Aboriginal community members or organisations who hold the cultural authority to lead it, rather than replicating elements independently.
Who can perform a Welcome to Country? Only a Traditional Owner or Custodian of the specific Country the event is being held on. It cannot be delivered by someone from a different Country or by a non-Indigenous person.
Can anyone do an Acknowledgement of Country? Yes. An Acknowledgement of Country is a respectful statement anyone can make, regardless of background, to recognise the Traditional Owners and continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the land.
What is a smoking ceremony used for? Traditionally and today, smoking ceremonies are used for cleansing, healing, marking significant life events, and as a gesture of welcome and goodwill, using smoke from smouldering native plants believed to have spiritual and physical cleansing properties.
Is it okay for a school to run its own smoking ceremony? No, a smoking ceremony is a sacred cultural practice that should only be conducted by someone with the cultural authority to do so. Schools should engage a local Aboriginal community member or organisation rather than attempting to replicate the practice themselves.
