TV shows labelled ‘condescending’ for Acknowledgement of Country

Indigenous leaders have blasted reality TV shows for this “condescending” move, saying it is being overused and devalued.

Indigenous leaders have blasted popular reality TV shows for using the Acknowledgment of Country, labelling the gestures “unnecessary” and “condescending” to Aboriginal people.

Channel 9’s The Block made the decision to show an Acknowledgment of Country before the new season premiere on Sunday night.

“The Block and the City of Melbourne respectfully acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi, Wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples as the traditional custodians of the land on which this production has taken place, and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. Always was, always will be, Kulin Nation land,” it said.

The Block’s Acknowledgment of Country. Picture: Channel 9

On Channel 10 on Sunday, The Masked Singer host Osher Gunsberg also began the show with the acknowledgment.

“We welcome you tonight from Gadigal land, a place of beauty and abundance, where the sandstone meets the sea,” Gunsberg said.

“We pay our respects to the traditional custodians of this country, and elders past, present and emerging, and extend our respects to any to First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people joining us tonight.”

Gunsberg’s address on the show was in line with Ten’s decision to do an Acknowledgement of Country at the start of every series filmed in Australia.

It has done so for three years.

Foxtel’s Real Housewives Of Melbourne also did an Acknowledgement of Country on the show last year.

Osher Gunsberg began the Masked Singer with an Acknowledgement of Country. Picture: Channel 10

Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter said the use of the acknowledgment was “totally unnecessary”.

“It should only be used where appropriate such as a citizenship ceremony,” Mr Hunter said.

“When too many people use it very lightly it devalues our ceremonial programs – it’s condescending.”

ACU social scientist Dr Anthony Dillon said the Acknowledgement of Country on prime time TV was a “tipping point”.

“While I don’t outright oppose it, I’m definitely not a fan of it,” Dr Dillon said.

“It’s become oversaturated, just like the warnings for Indigenous viewers on some stations that warn there could be images of deceased persons – it’s only applicable to very few people.”

In addition to doing the Acknowledgment of Country, The Block’s cast and crew have also undergone Indigenous cultural training in a bid to respect the land where the shows latest renovations are taking place.

Wurundjeri elder Ian Hunter says the use of the acknowledgment is ‘totally unnecessary’. Picture: Jason Edwards

Producers sought the advice and blessing of Wurundjeri elder Uncle Ron Jones after discovering the site, in country Victoria, is of cultural significance.

“We immediately engaged with the Wurundjeri people when our project commenced as we were aware that significant artefacts had been discovered on The Block site,” the show’s producer Julian Cress said.

“We worked closely together throughout production and all of our contestants and builders were specially inducted to ensure that the site was protected.”

Institute of Public Affairs Foundations of Western Civilisation Program director Dr Bella d’Abrera said The Block was being “woke” for doing the Acknowledgment of Country in partnership with Melbourne’s council.

“This is typical of the virtue signalling we have come to expect from the incredibly woke City of Melbourne,” she said.

“The more that the Welcome to Country is rolled out, the less value it actually has.

“Melbourne’s CBD is filthy and traders are struggling. It’s high time the City of Melbourne focused on its core business and stop pushing the woke agenda.”

Some viewers were positive, though, with Karlie Noon, the first Indigenous woman to graduate with a double degree in maths and physics, tweeting: “Awesome acknowledgement of country from @oshergunsberg on #themaskedsinger was actually so good #alwayswas.”

Gunsberg replied: “Thank you so much. We worked hard to make it right.”

Originally published as TV shows labelled ‘condescending’ for Acknowledgement of Country