You are invited to participate in UNSW’s Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, delivered by Bidjigal Traditional Owners from the La Perouse community.
Where: Globe Lawn, opposite Nura Gili (map ref: H16)
Date: Monday 6 February 2023
Time: 9:00am – 9:45am
Masks are strongly encouraged at this event
The ceremony will be the first event of O-Week and will include closing remarks from UNSW’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic Quality Merlin Crossley.
A Welcome to Country is a ceremony given by a local Aboriginal person of the country (usually an Elder) to acknowledge and give consent to events taking place on their traditional lands (Country). It is also a sign of respect and protocol which dates back to traditional times prior to the arrival of Europeans to Australia.
A Smoking Ceremony is an ancient continuing custom among Indigenous Australians that involves smouldering various native plants to produce smoke. The audience will be invited to walk through the smoke, as the smoke has cleansing and healing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits.
