Local Knowledge Task

Local Knowledge Task

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Local Knowledge Task

The Ngunnawal people are the custodians of the ACT and other surrounding regions, and the ACT government acknowledges this. Different institutions such as the local aboriginal land council or the state department for indigenous affairs are the initial points of contact. A person should begin by contacting these institutions as they will provide the information needed about the traditional groups, and about the welcome to the country ceremony. It is important to recognize the traditional owners at meetings and events, and to invite the elders to the Welcome to the Country ceremony. This is done before the beginning of any gathering. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island custodians of the land or elders welcome people to their land through Welcome to the Country, which may be in form of dance, speech, song, or any other ceremony.

The protocol forms chosen are diverse and they vary according to the people and the regions. The people have practiced this form of protocol for many years. The method used for acknowledging the elders and custodians depends on the knowledge that the speaker has of the group. If the speaker is not sure of the group in attendance or if there is more than one group represented, then he can use the general acknowledgement. The speaker can also choose to use an acknowledgement that is specific to the community or location of the meeting, if he has the necessary information to do so. This involves mentioning the name of the specific people and the region.

The main Aboriginal languages in the area are the Ngunnawal and the Ngambri. Canberra gets its name from the Ngambri. Clans such as Ngurmai and Namitch are significant in the region. Different Aboriginal and Torres Strait people from other parts of the country have settled in the region. Thus, although Canberra is the traditional country for the Ngunnawal and the Ngambri, it is also home to people from other languages.  The people have maintained an oral tradition, where they have passed on messages to subsequent generations.

They esteem this information highly, and only the elders have knowledge of crucial information. However, this is changing as more people continue learning more about the western ideals, and as they continue implementing the things they have learnt. Access to other information has enabled them to capture their stories through film. This new development has enabled many people to learn more about the different cultural practices and beliefs of the people. Although the people have strived to maintain their traditions, they are constantly influenced by much of the western world, and they have embraced many of the practices of the western world, which they have blended with their own culture. For instance, music artists have embraced modern and westernized music genres such as hip-hop. They also seek to communicate to more people, and they have opted to use English as their main form of communication.

The local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island have localized their culture and some cultural aspects may differ with other cultural aspects of other regions. The people focus their knowledge in their areas of attachment. Gaining permission from the right people is important, especially when seeking to speak or act on behalf of another. Generally, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people share some cultural elements although they differ in others. They believe in family support, and the family holds an important role. The people have mutual responsibility and they share resources. There is a common respect for the elders in both communities.