Birds flying high, you know how I feel

The end of a flight from Melbourne to Perth goes a little something like this:

‘Passengers please remain seated until the seatbelt signs are switched off. We would also like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land and pay respect to elders past and present.’

Ideally, it would go a lil somethin’ like this: 

‘Good morning folks, we have just touched down in Boorloo otherwise known as Perth. This is Noongar Boodjar land and some of the traditional owners include Carol Pettersen & Len Collard. Once the seatbelt signs have switched off, you may disembark. Tread respectfully and have a wonderful stay.’

But really, it should just be:

‘Hello passengers, we have just touched down in Perth with the local time 7AM. Before passengers disembark we would like to acknowledge that:

‘We don’t know who the traditional owners are.

Nor do we know whose land we are on,

and we don’t know any elders past or present.

Please mind the gap.’

Writer: Elwyn Orrells

Editor: Caitlin Earle