World News

US comedian Bill Maher’s scathing takedown land acknowledgements resurfaces after Voice referendum defeated in Australia

Footage of a US comedian delivering a scathing takedown of land acknowledgement ceremonies has resurfaced following the Voice referendum defeat in Australia. 

In the clip TV commentator Bill Maher scornfully dismisses those who recite the Canadian or American equivalent of Welcome or Acknowledgment of Country.

In a Welcome to Country the traditional owners give consent for activities performed on their ancestral land whereas in an Acknowledgment of Country non-traditional owners show respect to historic Indigenous inhabitants.

Maher scoffed at the sincerity of those performing the second type of ritual in a segment that aired on his show ‘Real Time’ in 2022.

A Welcome to Country is performed at an AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide's Norwood Oval in October

A Welcome to Country is performed at an AFLW match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide’s Norwood Oval in October

‘To all the people who start every public event now with one of those land acknowledgements where they say, “I’m standing on land that was stolen from the proud Indigenous people of the Chumash tribe”,’ Maher said.

‘I say either give it back or shut the f*** up.’ 

In the wake of Saturday’s referendum, where the Voice was rejected by around 61 per cent of voters, the late 2022 clip began circulating again widely on social media platform X.

On one account it had racked up over 2,000 ‘likes’ and a largely supportive set of comments.

‘I don’t condone the expletive, but….. He’s got a veeery good point,’ one person wrote.

‘Didn’t realise Americans had to put up with the same as Australians. Well said,’ another commented.

Although some were impressed given Maher’s reputation for controversy.

‘Good Lord, he’s really reached the GET OFF MY LAWN stage of life,’ one person noted.

The clip has resurfaced as jubilant No supporters reminded Yes advocate Marcia Langton of a comment she had made in April when she threatened to no longer conduct Welcome to Country if the referendum failed.

Former Liberal Senator and conservative commenter Cory Bernadi was one who sent a reminder to Prof Langton.

‘Does the success of today’s vote mean Marcia Langton’s promise of no more Welcome to Country will be honoured?’ Bernadi wrote on X Saturday.

American comedian Bill Maher (above) told people giving land acknowledgement to 'give it back or shut the f*** up'

American comedian Bill Maher (above) told people giving land acknowledgement to ‘give it back or shut the f*** up’

Former Liberal Senator and conservative commenter Cory Bernadi was one who sent a reminder to Prof Langton

Former Liberal Senator and conservative commenter Cory Bernadi was one who sent a reminder to Prof Langton

Speaking to The Australian in April, Prof Langton said if the Voice failed non-Indigenous Australians would feel too ashamed to ask traditional owners to do a Welcome to Country.

‘How are they ever going to be able to ask me to come and speak at their conference?’ she said.

‘If they have the temerity to do it, of course the answer is going to be no.’

United Australia Party Senator Ralph Babet chimed in to say he would not be disappointed if Prof Langton’s warning came to pass.

‘I am sick of the Welcome to Country and the acknowledgment of country. It’s so divisive. We’re all Australian,’ he wrote.

There were no shortage of people agreeing with him in reply to Bernadi’s tweet or elsewhere on social media.

That would be a dream come true!’ one person wrote about an end of Welcome to Country ceremonies.

‘It better. That was one of my main reasons for voting No,’ another said.

Leading Voice advocate Marcia Langton said in April that if voters rejected the Voice they would be shunned by Indigenous people for Welcome to Country ceremonies

Leading Voice advocate Marcia Langton said in April that if voters rejected the Voice they would be shunned by Indigenous people for Welcome to Country ceremonies

WHAT IS THE WELCOME TO COUNTRY?

A Welcome to Country can only be delivered by Traditional Owners or Custodians of the land on which the event takes place.

It is usually performed by a local Aboriginal Elder to acknowledge and give consent to events taking place on their traditional lands. 

It is also a sign of respect and protocol, but organising a Welcome to Country can take weeks, involving several different Indigenous groups.

If a Traditional Owner is not available to do a Welcome to Country, an Acknowledgement of Country can be delivered instead.

An Acknowledgement of Country is a way to show awareness and respect for Traditional Custodians of the land where a meeting or event is taking place. 

Its purpose is to recognise the continuing connection of Aboriginal people to Country, and can be delivered by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. 

There are three types of Acknowledgement of Country:

Generic – this should be used if you don¿t know the name of the people on whose land you are gathered, or if there are disputes about the land (multiple Aboriginal peoples identify as Traditional Custodians for that area). The words are:

‘I begin today by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.’

Specific – this should be used where there are no disputes and you know the name of the people on whose land you are gathered. The words are:

‘I begin today by acknowledging the people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we today, and pay my respects to their Elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.’

General (to be used Australia wide or in a webinar, on a website, or in printed material) – The words are:

‘In the spirit of reconciliation the [organisation] acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.’

The acknowledgement of land, or acknowledgement of Country, is typically used in Australia to recognise the traditional owners of the land on which an official ceremony is held. 

t is usually spoken at the beginning of an event.

While Maher was referring to Native Americans, his words also struck a chord with Australians who flocked to the comments section to share their thoughts.

‘Australia has been doing this for years. I think the same thing every time,’ one person wrote.

‘It reminds me of a prayer before dinner or something,’ another said.

‘Every single event in Australia, at first I was like ‘cool’, now I’m like ‘I’m done’.

‘I did a course at TAFE and every single class our trainer had to do it,’ another wrote.

Related posts

Big Dial-Up Energy: Netflix Gets Dragged By The Entire Internet & Blockbuster Video Over Disastrous ‘Love Is Blind’ Live Reunion

News Epistle

Cookin’ With Grease: Dev Patel Goes Apesh*t In Screen-Smoldering Kitchen Fight Clip From Action Thriller ’Monkey Man’

News Epistle

Who Wins The Jollof Wars? #SavorTheCulture Gets A Taste Of Senegal’s OG Recipe From Brooklyn’s Café Rue Dix

News Epistle

Leave a Comment