MATILDA HOUSE, NGAMBRI ELDER: Welcome to Ngambri Country. I am the daughter, granddaughter, and a great-great granddaughter of this land, and I welcome you here. The land of my ancestors.
DANIEL WILLIAMS: This is the place where we share stories, our Dreaming. I love to share my knowledge, and my stories, and my beliefs. Welcome to my Ancestral Country. This is the place of the Ngambri people.
PAUL HOUSE, NGAMBRI: [Speaks First Nations language]
SELINA WALKER, NGUNNAWAL: The tradition of welcoming the people to country is a practice that was handed down by ancestors, old people, and elders, from the beginning of time. Before entering another person's country, you would first announce your arrival, and not enter until a traditional owner formally welcomed you.
This was to protect your spirit while seeing another person's country, and also to show respect for the country which you are entering. So, in the words of my people [Speaks First Nations language] which means you may leave footprints on our land, or in other words, welcome to Country.
WALLY BELL, NGUNAWAL ELDER: [Speaks First Nations language]. In language that is: this is Ngunawal Country, and welcome. My people, the Ngunawal, are the traditional custodians for Canberra and surrounding areas in New South Wales, a country that's been occupied for at least 21,000 years.
It's important to us that you recognise that this is Ngunawal Country, and understand and appreciate how significant the land is to us as aboriginal people. Country to us, holds a strong connection. We belong to the Country, to the land.