IAG Conference Message Stick
The Message Stick is for ceremonial use at the Welcome to Country/Acknowledgement of Country opening session of the IAG annual conference.
“A Message Stick would be good as it makes people think and respect one another. It takes it to another level from just words at a conference that can then be forgotten, it becomes an ongoing issue of touching and looking after the stick and passing it on year by year. I know many white people would be honoured to hold a Message Stick, it doesn’t have to be just for black people, it is a form of communication, and that means between different groups, black and white, traditional owners and visitors to country, and can also be for youMessar group to make a statement to the rest of the IAG.”
Paakantji elder and Message Stick creator Mr Badger Bates