Business Events Cairns & Great Barrier Reef acknowledges that we
work, live and play on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land.
We pay our respects to elders past, present and future.
Recognising Our Traditional Custodians
Tropical North Queensland is the only region in Australia with two distinct Indigenous cultures; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been continuously active longer than any other culture on the planet.
Welcome to Country
Protocols for welcoming visitors to Country have been a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures for thousands of years. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups had clear boundaries separating their Country from that of other groups. Crossing into another group’s Country required a request for permission to enter. When permission was granted the hosting group would welcome the visitors, offering them safe passage and protection of their spiritual being during the journey. While visitors were provided with a safe passage, they also had to respect the protocols and rules of the landowner group while on their Country.
Today, much has changed, and these protocols have been adapted to contemporary circumstances. However, the essential elements of welcoming visitors and offering safe passage remain in place. A Welcome to Country occurs at the beginning of a formal event and can take many forms including singing, dancing, smoking ceremonies or a speech in traditional language or English. A Welcome to Country is delivered by Traditional Owners, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have been given permission from Traditional Owners, to welcome visitors to their Country.
Acknowledgement of Country
An Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity for anyone to show respect for Traditional Owners and the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country. It can be given by both non-Indigenous people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. There are no set protocols or wording for an Acknowledgement of Country, though often a statement may take the following forms:
General –
“I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today. I would also like to pay my respects to Elders past and present.”
Specific –
“I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet today, the (people) of the (nation) and pay my respects to Elders past and present.”
Similar to a Welcome to Country, an Acknowledgement of Country is generally offered at the beginning of a meeting, speech or formal occasion. Contacts for Traditional Custodians in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef can be found below.
At Your Event
There are many Traditional Custodians of the lands on Tropical North Queensland. When you hold your business event here, we invite you to recognise them and pay your respects to elders past, present and future. Here are four areas that provide a Welcome To Country or Acknowledgement to Country service in Cairns & Great Barrier Reef:
Yirrganydji
Cairns – Palm Cove
Yirrgandji (pronounced Irikandji) are the Traditional Custodians of the narrow coastal strip of land from Cairns North to the Mowbray River just before Port Douglas. They are known as the Saltwater people.
Welcome To Country Performance Contact: Gavin Singleton
Yidinji
Cairns & Trinity Inlet
Yidinji (pronounced Yidinjee) are the Traditional Custodians of the land including Cairns, south to the Russell River and west to parts of the Atherton Tablelands.
Includes:
Gimuy Walubarra Yidinji (south of Cairns and surrounds)
Mandingalbay Yidinji (east of Cairns, across the Trinity Inlet to Yarrabah)
Welcome To Country Performance Contact:
Carl Fourmile, Minjil
Kuku Yalanji
Port Douglas – Mossman – Daintree
The Kuku Yalanji (also known as the Gugu-Yalanji or Kokojelandji) are Indigenous Australian people originating from the rainforest regions of Tropical North Queensland. Their traditional country extends from south of Mossman to Cooktown in the north, and Palmer River in the west.
Welcome To Country Performance Contact:
Shelly Tolley, Mossman Gorge Centre
Djabugay
Barron Gorge – Kuranda
The Djabugay people (also known as the Djabunganydji) are the original inhabitants of mountains, gorges, lands and waters of a richly forested part of the Great Dividing Range, including the Barron Gorge and surrounding areas towards Mareeba, Kuranda and Port Douglas.
Welcome to Country Performance Contact:
Welcome to winter in the tropics (aka the perfect time to go to #FitzroyIsland) 🏝️🤸 This quintessential tropical island National Park is a must-do when you visit the tropics 🏖 Boasting incredible views, refreshing water & one of the most photogenic coral shores around 🐚✨ You can discover the island for yourself with @fitzroyislandadventures or @sunloverreefcruises ⛵️ Don’t feel like leaving? Stay a while at @fitzroyisland resort 🍹 🏝
📸 @the_trail_tale #exploretnq #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia

Celebrating hump day with the only kind of blues we like in Queensland on board @sailawayportdouglas ⛵️✨ 😉
📸 @kristy_gc #explorecairnsGBR #exploretnq #seeaustralia #thisisqueensland #portdouglasdaintree

@portdouglasdaintree really is paradise 😍🌴 With delicious dining options, spas galore & incredible shops, tours & activities you’ll never be short of something to do while you spend time in #PortDouglas 🌺⛵️ But you don’t have to do anything at all to enjoy your time - just check in to one of the town’s luxurious resorts for the perfect flop & drop holiday 🧘
📸 @braedanlovett #explorecairnsGBR #exploretnq #seeaustralia #thisisqueensland

How about a dunk in the water this week? 💦 #DunkIsland is just a stone’s throw off the coast of #MissionBeach in @cassowarycoastaustralia and can be reached by a short boat trip ⛵️ Most of the island is national park, with unique tracts of rainforests, pristine beaches and abundant species of wildlife 🏝️ 🐾 Don`t forget to grab a board from @whatsupcairns and test your SUP skills 🏄
📸 @mycolourfulworld_ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #exploretnq

If you’re a little bit of a green thumb, you might want to spend a little time exploring this beauty in Cairns 🍃 The Flecker Botanic Gardens are home to an incredible array of plants & wildlife (mainly birds, but we could watch them all day! 🦜) Try a tour of the garden, check out the visitor information centre & let the kids explore their inner nature fanatic with the fortnightly activity program for children under five - there’s crafts, stories, sing alongs & garden discovery walks! 🌿
If you’re looking for a little more action, just a short walk or drive down the road you’ll find the @tanksartscentre & some epic walking trails 🥾🎭
📸 @taegs_takes_photos #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #exploretnq

Today we celebrate National Reconciliation Week 👣🌴
This is a time for everyone to learn about our shared histories, cultures, achievements, and to explore how each person can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia through this year’s theme “Be a Voice for Generations” ❤️🖤💛
#exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #NRW2023

Nope, you`re not flicking through the pages of @natgeo, although we wouldn’t blame you for thinking you were 💫🌴 Deep within a 180 million-year-old rainforest, where the Kuku Yalanji people have roamed for more than 50,000 years lies the pristine waters & stunning views of #MossmanGorge 🍃💦 Before you explore emerald green waters flowing over smooth, granite boulders enveloped by ancient tropical rainforest, head off on a Ngadiku Dreamtime Walk, peruse the gallery or sample the local food at @mossmangorge centre 🌿🎨🦖
📸 @thatonetimein.blog #exploreTNQ #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #explorecairnsGBR #portdouglasdaintree

They don`t call it #EmeraldCreekFalls for nothing 💚🌿 With tumbling waters, giant granite boulders & placid pools, plus some epic walking trails, there’s no better waterfall to spruce up your insta feed 😍 Head off for an hour long drive along the Kennedy Highway towards Mareeba to get to this sensational spot 🚙 Don`t forget to stop in for a cold treat at the Emerald Creek Ice-creamery while you`re there!🍦
📸 angel_wildlife #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #northerntablelands

Feel on top of the world? 🌴🌄 Try hiking to the summit of #WalshsPyramid in Wooroonoonran National Park ⛰This epic hiking trail will take you around 3-4 hours return, but the panoramic views at the top are worth every step 👣 The best time to go? Start your trip early while the weather is nice and cool 🌤
📸 @all.about.adventure #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerncairns

When you realise it`s only Tuesday 🫠 Did you know that the southern cassowary is only found in parts of Papua New Guinea and North East Australia!? So there’s nowhere better to try cassowary spotting this weekend than @tropicalnorthqueensland 🙌🌴 Jump on a tour with @tropicwingstours and say hi to our feathered friends!
📸 @pb.ay #exploreTNQ #explorecairnsGBR #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia
