Former President Barack Obama is in Australia this week for his leadership speaking tour, but organizers for the event have apologized after a First Nations elder was removed from performing in the Welcome to Country ceremony in Melbourne.
Sky News is reporting that Aunty Joy Murphy was originally asked to perform in the Welcome to Country ceremony at “An Evening with Barack Obama” on March 29, but she was reportedly deemed “too difficult” by the event’s organizers.
Murphy was supposed to deliver a customary gum leaf to the former president at the ceremony but requested a support person to assist her “weeks in advance” and was dropped from the event.
“I am 78 years of age. I have never been treated or spoken to in this way in the past,” Murphy said. “I do not want this to be a reflection on President Obama. I am a leader of the Wurundjeri Nation. I asked to be treated as an equal. I have been shocked and distressed by the way I have been treated by event organizers. They have always shown me respect and accepted my Welcome as a gift from our people.”
“The Welcome to Country is a very important ceremony for our people. It is an honor to Welcome people like President Obama, and I upset that I am unable to do this today,” Murphy concluded.
Donald Betts, the CEO of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, accused Growth Faculty of being culturally insensitive for canceling Aunty Joy.
“She really wanted to welcome [former president Obama] home and let him know that he’s on land that the Wurundjeri people are custodians of and First Nations custodians are responsible for all people on their land,” he said.
Organizers of Growth Faculty later apologized to the Wurundjeri elder and invited her to perform at the Melbourne Convention Centre on Thursday for Obama’s business lunch instead.
“Growth Faculty has apologized to Aunty Joy that last night’s ceremony could not…
Read the full article here
