Welcome to Country Ceremony Sparks Controversy
A traditional Indigenous Welcome to Country ceremony before an AFLW preliminary final has drawn significant criticism after being accused of veering into political territory and business promotion.
The ceremony, delivered by Aboriginal elder Louisa Bonner before the Brisbane Lions versus Carlton Blues match in Ipswich, Queensland on Saturday, has been condemned by prominent Indigenous figures for straying from its intended purpose.
Political Statements Dominate Ceremony
Warren Mundine, the former national president of the Australian Labor Party and ex-chairman of the federal government's Indigenous Advisory Council, expressed his frustration during an interview with Ben Fordham on 2GB radio.
"Why don't they go and look at the Macquarie Dictionary or whatever, and look up the word welcome," Mundine stated. "It is not about giving a personal lecture, it is not about running off in a promotion for your business, or to look at the politics of the day."
Bonner began the ceremony in traditional fashion, acknowledging the traditional owners of the land and welcoming football fans to Yuggera country in south-east Queensland.
However, the tone quickly shifted as she addressed what she described as a "national crisis" affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children in youth detention systems.
Bonner spoke about systemic racism, colonisation impacts, and limited recognition of sovereignty during her address to the sports crowd.
Business Promotion Adds to Controversy
The ceremony took another controversial turn when Bonner used the platform to promote her business, Narungga Limited, and distributed business cards to attendees.
"Narungga Limited's programs align with this responsibility by prioritising care, respect and cultural authority across all generations," she told the crowd.
Mundine criticised this approach, stating: "That was three things. One, it started out as a Welcome to Country. Then it lost its way and went into a political statement and then it went into an advertisement for her business."
He emphasised that proper Welcome to Country ceremonies should focus on making people feel welcomed and valued, similar to welcoming guests into one's home.
Alternative Ceremony Provides Contrast
The controversy was highlighted by comparison with another Welcome to Country ceremony delivered the same weekend by Uncle Colin Hunter Junior before the North Melbourne versus Melbourne AFLW preliminary final.
Hunter's ceremony remained focused on traditional welcomes and acknowledgements without political commentary or business promotion.
"I'd like to start by acknowledging that this afternoon we are meeting on the lands of my ancestors, the Wurundjeri people," Hunter said, keeping his remarks strictly to welcoming attendees and acknowledging traditional connections to the land.
3AW's Tom Mitchell joined the criticism of Bonner's approach, describing it as "extraordinary" and "completely inappropriate before a football game."
The incident has raised questions about the purpose and appropriate content of Welcome to Country ceremonies at sporting events, with critics calling for the AFL to review its approach to these traditional acknowledgements.
