How should I acknowledge the cultural origins of the games and involve local elders?

The resource recommends that local elders are consulted and invited to be involved in some way before any unit of work or special event using the games. The ASC page adds that when the games are used in a school or sport program, local elders and Indigenous groups should be informed of the plans and invited to participate, including by commenting on suitable activities.

The resource gives these examples of statements that might be acceptable to local elders:

• "We pay our respect to the traditional custodians of this land."
• "We acknowledge that we are on the traditional lands of the ... peoples and pay our respects to the traditional custodians."

The ASC recognises the traditional owners of the games and activities that formed the basis of the resource and dedicates it to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The book says care was taken to avoid games used in initiation ceremonies and religious events, or which could give a false impression of the cultural identity of Indigenous people.

Source: Yulunga: Traditional Indigenous Games (Australian Sports Commission, 2008); https://www.ausport.gov.au/schools/resource-hub/yulunga/how-to-use-the-cards