Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

Acknowledgment of Country

Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians.

We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.

May we continue to peacefully walk together in gratitude, respect and kindness in caring for this Country and one another.

>>JILL ROBINSON: Brisbane was founded on the lands of the oldest continuing cultures on earth; cultures that are an intrinsic part of our thriving, modern city.

Brisbane City Council is dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone to engage with and learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and peoples as we make Brisbane an accessible and inclusive city for all.

We’ve been working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to offer programs and events to showcase culture.

To showcase history.

To showcase people.

To showcase achievements.

Our aim is to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities to bring these ancient cultures to the forefront of life in Brisbane.

Programs like Black History Month, which runs through July each year, offering experiences from family fun days, dance, art tours, exhibitions, and more.

And the Indigenous Art Program; an annual celebration of some of the most widely recognised artists and stories.

Events like ‘Gathering’ in Queen Street Mall, which remains the only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performance happening weekly in the heart of a major capital city in Australia.

And the Black Diamonds Community Partnership Scheme, supporting opportunities for young people to elders, to participate in local cultural learning activities.

Look around our city and you’ll find artwork by Goreng Goreng artist Rachael Sarra and Quandamooka/Nunukul woman Casey Coolwell integrated into our public transport.

Share in stories, songs, rhymes and play with your little ones during First 5 Forever Jarjum Storytime at Council libraries.

And explore native plants and symbolic totems on the bushland trails at Boondall Wetlands to uncover the historical significance of the area.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and traditions are an important part of the social and economic life of Brisbane and are for everyone to learn about, experience, and enjoy.

Get to know your city better by getting involved in these and many more of Council’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and events today.

On this day in 2008, the then Prime Minister of Australia made an official apology to the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian Government. 

An estimated 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly taken from their families and raised in homes or adopted or fostered by European families.

On this day in 1997, the Bringing them Home report was tabled in the Australian Parliament. ‘Bringing them Home’ is the final report of the ‘National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families.’

On 26 May 1998, the first National Sorry Day was held to commemorate the anniversary of the report and remember the grief, suffering and injustice experienced by the stolen generations.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures and achievements. It’s an opportunity to explore how everyone can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

On this day in 1992, the High Court of Australia handed down a landmark decision in the Mabo case. 

In acknowledging the traditional rights of the Meriam people to their land, the court also held that native title existed for all Indigenous people, paving the way for new federal legislation the following year, the Native Title Act 1993.

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia to celebrate and recognise the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. 

NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

On this day in 1871, representatives from the London Missionary Society arrived on Erub (Darnley Island) accompanied by South Sea Islander evangelists and teachers, introducing Christianity to the Torres Strait Islands. 

Each year on 1 July, ‘The Coming of the Light’ or ‘Keriba Lagaw Buiya’ in traditional language is a day of celebration, performance, oral tradition and reverence.

Council's signature Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program gives you the chance to experience traditional and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

This day is an opportunity for the broader community to show support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It’s a chance to learn about the importance of culture, family and community in the life of every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.

Both protocols have a similar purpose and must occur at the introduction of an event. The key difference is a Welcome to Country can only be performed by a Traditional Custodian of that Country. 

An Acknowledgement of Country can be performed by both non-Traditional Custodian, an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander or non-Indigenous Australian.