At the Tomorrow Movement’s Racial Justice Learning Collective (RJLC), we’ve been diving deep into the practice of Acknowledgement of Country. This reflection was inspired by our collective reading and discussion of Heba A.’s powerful article, “Acknowledgements without land”, which critically examines the paradox of land acknowledgements in the absence of land back. Hebe’s work challenged us to think deeply about how we, as settlers, engage with this practice and how we can ensure it serves a meaningful purpose rather than becoming a hollow ritual.
Why Do We Acknowledge Country?
Acknowledgement of Country has its roots in the activism of the 1960s, where it was used at rallies to remind people of the land they stood on and the Indigenous communities who have stewarded it for millennia. Today, it’s become a common practice, but its purpose can sometimes get lost in repetition or reduced to a box-ticking exercise.
Heba’s article poignantly asks: What are land acknowledgements without land back? This question resonated deeply with us. During our discussions, we explored why some groups do Acknowledgements of Country: some out of genuine solidarity, others because it’s seen as the “right thing to do,” and some out of fear of being “cancelled.” But for us, the question became: How can we ensure our acknowledgements are not hypocritical and serve a real purpose?
Acknowledging the Fight, Not Just the Land
When we acknowledge Country, we’re not just recognising the land we’re on—we’re acknowledging the ongoing fight for justice, sovereignty, and land rights that First Nations people are leading. It’s a moment to reflect on our shared solidarity and the role we play as settlers in this fight.
Heba’s article highlights the danger of acknowledgements becoming performative, especially when they are disconnected from the material realities of land back and justice. One powerful way to make Acknowledgements of Country more meaningful is to use them as an opportunity to encourage settlers to reflect on what it means to live on stolen land. For example, during a recent training session on preferential voting, Monique incorporated the history of First Nations resistance to the current government structure and encouraged individuals to reflect on the ongoing impact of this structure. This approach turned a routine practice into an educational moment, sparking deeper engagement and reflection.
Turning Acknowledgement into Action
A key takeaway from our discussions, inspired by Heba’s critique, was the importance of linking Acknowledgements of Country to a call to action. As one member pointed out, “Acknowledgement is an opportunity to name the solution we are fighting for.” For example, ANTAR’s Acknowledgement of Country explicitly ties the acknowledgement to the fight for land rights, giving it a clear purpose.
However, we also recognised the need to be careful about co-opting First Nations struggles. As a predominantly white organisation, it’s not our place to offer solutions. Instead, we can use Acknowledgements of Country to amplify the demands of First Nations communities, such as land back, and to highlight how their fight is interconnected with our vision for a just future.
Building Shared Responsibility
In our Central Leadership Team (CLT), we’ve been experimenting with ways to make Acknowledgements of Country more intentional and reflective. For example, we’ve started incorporating a weekly discussion on solidarity, where each facilitator brings something they’ve learned or reflected on. This practice not only deepens our understanding but also builds a sense of shared responsibility within the team.
We’ve also committed to doing research about the lands we’re on or visiting, so we can share this knowledge with others.
Making Acknowledgements of Country Purposeful in Trainings
For external trainings, we’ve decided to ensure that the purpose of the Acknowledgement of Country is clearly reflected in the content. This means going beyond a perfunctory statement and using the Acknowledgement of Country as an educational moment. For new members, we encourage them to “make it their own” by connecting the Acknowledgement of Country to the content and their personal reflections.
A Call to Move Beyond Performative Allyship
Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that Acknowledgements of Country are not just performative gestures but meaningful acts of solidarity. By linking acknowledgements to education, reflection, and action, we can honour the fight for justice that First Nations people are leading and recognise our role as settlers in this shared struggle.
Heba’s article reminded us that acknowledgements without land back risk becoming empty gestures. As we continue to build the Tomorrow Movement, we’re committed to embedding these practices into our work—not as an afterthought, but as a core part of how we organise, educate, and fight for a better future. Because the future we’re fighting for isn’t possible without land back, without justice, and without the leadership of First Nations communities.
Let’s make every acknowledgement count.