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A social media user complained about constant Homeland Recognition ceremonies before meetings at a forum for government workers.
‘Is anyone else tired of the recognition of the country before every meeting?’ shared in the AusPublic Service Reddit.
‘I have several meetings a day and in each of them someone recognizes the country.
‘At this point it seems ridiculous and a waste of time. I have to look away so I don’t roll my eyes. How do you feel listening to this 5 or 6 times a day?
Most commenters said they had had enough practice.
‘We have to open our team meetings with it. It feels shallow and fake,” one person wrote.
‘Yeah. It is useless and offensive,” was another response.
‘Everyone knows that at this point they are empty words. “I’m not sure who he’s supposed to fool,” said another.
A common objection was that it had little practical effect.
Recognition of the country’s rituals pays tribute to the owners of the traditions (pictured, a ceremony welcoming the country)
“Indigenous Australians need actions, not token words,” was the most endorsed comment in the thread.
“I know a guy who got a waiver from the local elders so he wouldn’t have to say it at official events,” another response recounted.
‘His reasoning was that it was symbolic and he didn’t believe it helped local communities.
‘The elders agreed with him and gave him support in writing.
‘Social justice warriors’ heads nearly exploded when he informed the organization that he would no longer be doing it, but there was nothing they could do given his exemption. Pretty fun stuff.
However, the practice had some defenders.
“I don’t have a problem with this, but sometimes I’ve felt like it was trivialized,” one Reddit user wrote.
‘Then a few years ago I did one before doing some sort of workshop and at lunch one of the guys in the room, an older Aboriginal gentleman, came up and said he appreciated it.
A Reddit user has complained that his workplace does an Acknowledgment for every meeting (stock image pictured).
“I’ve felt good doing it since then; maybe a lot of people are bored, but for some people they may find meaning in it.”
Another Reddit user said a former workplace “had a culture of getting it right.”
“Everyone who spoke it researched the country they were in, then combined it with a fact, a bit of history, culture they had learned, or incorporated something indigenous into the presentation we were doing,” the user commented.
‘This also trickled down to smaller gatherings.
‘It is very possible that it will be a genuine and positive experience for everyone. “And it’s important to our First Nations people that we keep it that way.”
Others condemned the thread.
“Get over it,” one person responded.
‘Hard pill to swallow: this country is very racist. The situation in this thread is ridiculous. And these are public service people!’
Although the original poster insisted that it be done before every meeting at your workplace, this was not everyone’s experience.
“Honestly, a lot seems to have gone missing at my agency since the Voice vote failed,” one Reddit user wrote.
One person took a more pragmatic approach.
“If you keep paying me to listen to you, I will sit there for as many as you can,” they wrote.
“Especially when food is provided.”