March 29th 2023.
A First Nations Elder has expressed her shock and distress after being removed from carrying out the Welcome to Country ceremony at a Melbourne event hosted by former US President Barack Obama. Obama and his wife Michelle arrived in the Victorian capital this afternoon in anticipation of the event on Wednesday night at John Cain Arena. Senior Elder and Traditional Owner Aunty Joy Murphy claims that she was told she was being too demanding for making two requests to the event organisers Growth Faculty; to have a support person accompany her, and to provide Obama with a gift, as is cultural practice. According to the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, Aunty Joy was taken out of the proceedings after making the requests. She said she was, "78 years of age and had never been spoken to or treated in this way before" and that she "asked to be treated as an equal". The Welcome to Country is a very important ceremony for the First Nations people, and Aunty Joy was also removed from performing traditional cultural protocols at a business lunch with Obama tomorrow. She said she was "upset" that she was unable to do this. 9News has attempted to contact Growth Faculty for comment.
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