Draft Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy

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At the Ordinary Council meeting held on Wednesday 24 July 2024 Council endorsed the draft Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy for public exhibition for a period not less than 28 days. The exhibition period commences on Thursday 8 August and ends on Monday 9 September 2024.

The draft Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy outlines Council’s commitment to acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional owners of this land and also outlines the way in which this will be recognised at Council events.

Background information:

At the September 2023 Ordinary Meeting of Council, Council resolved to acknowledge the Armidale township as the ancestral home of the Anaiwan people. It was also resolved that in addition to the erection of signage at the main road entrances to Armidale, at Council events within the Armidale township, the Anaiwan people would also be acknowledged.

At a subsequent Councillor workshop on 11 December 2023, it was discussed and understood that a policy position in relation to recognition be reached before the erection of the signage.

Outside of the recognition of Anaiwan people within the Armidale township, a policy position on signage and ceremonial function throughout the whole Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area cannot be established at this time, without more extensive community consultation.

Draft Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy:

Within the current Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy, section 10 outlines Council’s commitment to acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional owners of this land and also outlines the way in which this will be recognised at Council events.

To reflect resolution 117/23 of Council at the September 2023 Ordinary Meeting of Council, additions have been proposed to section 10 of this policy, as follows: -

• ‘Within the Armidale town boundaries, Welcome to Country ceremonies should be conducted by Anaiwan people’ and;

• ‘Within Armidale town boundaries, Acknowledgement of Country should include the following wording: - Armidale Regional Council acknowledges we are on the ancestral home of the Anaiwan people and we pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging’.

Besides these two amendments, the policy remains unchanged.

The erection of signage at the main road entrances to Armidale will proceed once an amended Council policy position has been endorsed.

Included within resolution 117/23, Council resolved that further community consultations would be undertaken in order to determine how to recognise the traditional custodians of other towns and villages within the LGA.

Following the outcome of this further community consultation, a complete policy position will be determined and additional changes to policy will be brought back to Council for endorsement.

Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale, NSW 2350, or sent by email to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au and marked 'Draft Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy'.

Submissions must be received by Monday 9 September 2024.

Please be aware that if you make a submission, other people may have access to your comments. This may be as a result of a report to a Council meeting or as part of an application under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Also, under State legislation, any person making a submission on a Draft LEP amendment must also disclose whether they or an ‘associate’ have made a ‘reportable political donation’ or gift to a local Councillor or Council employee within the period commencing two years before any submission is made and ending when the Draft LEP is determined. Further details including disclosure forms are available on request from Council.

At the Ordinary Council meeting held on Wednesday 24 July 2024 Council endorsed the draft Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy for public exhibition for a period not less than 28 days. The exhibition period commences on Thursday 8 August and ends on Monday 9 September 2024.

The draft Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy outlines Council’s commitment to acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional owners of this land and also outlines the way in which this will be recognised at Council events.

Background information:

At the September 2023 Ordinary Meeting of Council, Council resolved to acknowledge the Armidale township as the ancestral home of the Anaiwan people. It was also resolved that in addition to the erection of signage at the main road entrances to Armidale, at Council events within the Armidale township, the Anaiwan people would also be acknowledged.

At a subsequent Councillor workshop on 11 December 2023, it was discussed and understood that a policy position in relation to recognition be reached before the erection of the signage.

Outside of the recognition of Anaiwan people within the Armidale township, a policy position on signage and ceremonial function throughout the whole Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area cannot be established at this time, without more extensive community consultation.

Draft Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy:

Within the current Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy, section 10 outlines Council’s commitment to acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional owners of this land and also outlines the way in which this will be recognised at Council events.

To reflect resolution 117/23 of Council at the September 2023 Ordinary Meeting of Council, additions have been proposed to section 10 of this policy, as follows: -

• ‘Within the Armidale town boundaries, Welcome to Country ceremonies should be conducted by Anaiwan people’ and;

• ‘Within Armidale town boundaries, Acknowledgement of Country should include the following wording: - Armidale Regional Council acknowledges we are on the ancestral home of the Anaiwan people and we pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging’.

Besides these two amendments, the policy remains unchanged.

The erection of signage at the main road entrances to Armidale will proceed once an amended Council policy position has been endorsed.

Included within resolution 117/23, Council resolved that further community consultations would be undertaken in order to determine how to recognise the traditional custodians of other towns and villages within the LGA.

Following the outcome of this further community consultation, a complete policy position will be determined and additional changes to policy will be brought back to Council for endorsement.

Submissions are invited and must be addressed to the General Manager, Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale, NSW 2350, or sent by email to council@armidale.nsw.gov.au and marked 'Draft Civic and Ceremonial Function and Representation Policy'.

Submissions must be received by Monday 9 September 2024.

Please be aware that if you make a submission, other people may have access to your comments. This may be as a result of a report to a Council meeting or as part of an application under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. Also, under State legislation, any person making a submission on a Draft LEP amendment must also disclose whether they or an ‘associate’ have made a ‘reportable political donation’ or gift to a local Councillor or Council employee within the period commencing two years before any submission is made and ending when the Draft LEP is determined. Further details including disclosure forms are available on request from Council.

Page published: 10 Sep 2024, 09:46 AM