Observance of welcome to country, analysis.
An opinion piece only.
Full disclosure I am not an aboriginal person, In my life experience and studies I have drawn my own conclusions and had elements explained to me via various and multiple groups and individuals with differing insights.
I will start with the contention, regarding the 'welcome to country' often incorporating a 'smoking ceremony', and not to be confused with an 'Acknowledgement of country'.
My understanding of W2C is that it is in current form relatively new, bastardised and or basically patented, when asked how I feel about such welcomes ceremonies anywhere I simply say let capitalism sort it out, don't pay anyone to do a ceremony, let the volunteers only do it.
As I came to understand it was sort of rare and reserved for initiations, adoptions and predominantely on Australia day when we welcomed new citizens alongside our Citizenship ceremonies.
Acknowledgement of country rings the same as welcoming only wastes time in local councils and every branch of already over regulated government bureaucracy funded solely to distract and waste time which could otherwise be far more productive, and everyone involved at every level knows it.
Lastly smoking ceremonies, I have 3 learned stories and adopted my own conclusion after hearing the rest of the world squabble.
Firstly smoking in this way is not confined to a ceremonial purpose, rather that would be one of the least likely reasons to engage in such a practice, occams razor, the simplest answer is usually correct.
The first real logical claim I heard was that it was a practice of using hot coals still smoking on the end of a stick and they would use it to burn off ticks as they crossed borders or moved from one place to another to prevent transferring the diseases that often come with such parasites.
And this from a 55 yr old aboriginal with 6 teeth and apparently no understanding of science let alone virology, He spoke broken English & pretty sure he had never even heard the word bio-security, but he damn well knew what it means.
Having had ticks burned off myself this explanation really stuck.Furthermore he mentioned naturally occurring geographic lines he could explain or point to on a map, later research shows modern science has identified many locations referred to as hydated infested areas where these pests reside.
The second I heard was spiritual, relating to both warding them (spirits) off and or inviting them in, which for me is confusing to this day, how smoke can invite or scare away spirits is beyond my understanding, nonetheless a very valid belief system in its own right.
One that perhaps should not be ignored for various reasons, perhaps the "spirits" reside in a hydated infested area full of unseen diseases.
This reasoning often includes body painting with ocre or ash, perhaps both, which one could with an open mind consider a primitive form of Aero Guard, like an insect repellent.
The third reason for a smoking that intrigues me is of course a medicinal one, this is equal parts confusing and interesting as well as plausible and relatable in more ways than I will ever be able to explore, however I will add 2 stand out examples.
1 -Most people I am sure have used eucalyptus or tea tree oil in one way or another, from soap to vicks vapor rub, shampoo to skin cream and scented candles, the health benefits are well documented.
It is common to steep eucalyptus leaves in a bowl with towel over head for many respiratory related illnesses or fevers. Inhaling the smoke or steaming as a healing method is surely well accepted treatment for various conditions by now.
2- The burning in ways that reduce fuel loads, aid in hunting, deter invaders of human or parasitic kinds at times of year that would produces a lot of smoke, and likely a cool burn scenario with low threat to local environment.
In my own conclusion a "Welcome" in any given area of Australia pre and potentially post English settlement may have been subject to some sort of cleaning ritual / ceremony.
A bio security exercise, a spiritually based bathing in water with native soap tree or smoke with proven antibacterial / anti-fungal properties.
If it was practiced and that seems likely, A "welcome", was a cleansing ritual, although carrying spiritual connotations it potentially had logistical and logical reason for being practiced beyond the attributes of a religion or belief system alone, it may have been organised and accumulated knowledge of the dangers of very real and well understood threats to the peoples continued survival.
And who really knows, I once asked my most trusted source (I cannot say his name) a question one evening, -Is it possible that if Cook / Phillip et al had respected such traditions like -Welcome & Smoking- as they're called now, that perhaps it could have prevented some or all of the introduced pests/diseases that had immediate and shocking effects on the local people?
His answer was wise, he said " Probably not, It may have helped reduce things like tick or flea sickness but not stop it, Our people didn't know how to disinfect whole boats full of sick".
It is with all this and more in mind I would suggest,
The "welcome" as it was, remained a primitive and somewhat successful form of Quarantine / bio-security measure enacted by people with ways of understanding lost to many today, but proven via time itself and their very survival.
Today, as we enter 2025 it is my opinion that the modern presentations, characterisation and theatrics can indeed be viewed as insulting and or bastardised beyond recognition of anything resembling it's varied former practices, as long as the focus remains on paid presenters to paying audiences in a modern age.
Without a true understanding being shared, the demonstration itself appears inappropriately appropriated to many, a sentiment not lost even on many Aboriginal Australians today.
In any case true cultural practices of any kind do not continue to exist purely via the kind of financial incentives available today.
I for one will continue to do tick searches as instructed, in the manor instructed, when visiting certain locations, and always be happy to participate in ceremonies via invitation without any monetary transactions associated.
With regards.
©J. W. Newell. 2024.
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