The ABC's Canberra News is breaking new ground by introducing an Acknowledgement of Country in its nightly bulletin out of respect for the local Indigenous community.

On October 21, presenter Dan Bourchier started the News with the greeting 'Yuma', which means hello, while the ABC News ACT ident on the screen next to him included the words 'Ngunnawal Country'.

At the end of the bulletin, he said: "And that's the latest from the Canberra newsroom, proudly broadcasting from the land of the Ngunnawal people. As part of our ongoing commitment to Indigenous recognition, the ABC is partnering with the United Ngunnawal Elders Council and pays respect to them — the first people of this land. I'm Dan Bourchier, Yarra, Goodnight."

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In the lead-up to the Year of Indigenous Languages, the ABC has been increasingly incorporating Indigenous words, stories and songs into its radio, TV and online content and the Acknowledgement of Country evolved out of one of those projects.

"Last year, we collaborated with Ngunnawal Elders to record language idents for our local radio presenters, which we launched in NAIDOC Week, and they have been on a daily rotation ever since," said Canberra editor Michelle Ainsworth.

"During one of our local Indigenous working group meetings, our senior editor Jan Pritchard asked why we didn't also acknowledge Ngunnawal Country at the start of our evening news.

"It was a good question, and the next logical step for our content teams, so we set about working on how to do this."

The team approached the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) for guidance and consulted the United Ngunnawal Elders Council — the local Indigenous body that provides advice to the ACT Government in relation to heritage and connection to land matters for the Ngunnawal people.

"I think the Acknowledgement of Country initiative from the ABC is fantastic," AIATSIS CEO Craig Ritchie said.

"It shows respect for traditional owners and their ongoing connection to their land.

"Protocols for welcoming visitors to country has been a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures for thousands of years.

"Today, I am proud that people and organisations from around Australia wish to pay respect and acknowledge Australia's first peoples.

"This type of activity weaves our cultures and traditions into contemporary Australian culture and our national narrative."

Ngunnawal Elders watch the first bulletin acknowledging Country go to air. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore )

Ngunnawal Elders were involved in the development to ensure the Acknowledgement of Country was culturally appropriate, and provided this feedback:

Aunty Ros Brown: "It gives me goose bumps. It's beautiful.

"Ngunnawal people when they see this will be crying."

Warren Daley: "We've come a long way."

Brad Bell: "It's in the name of reconciliation. Congratulations for showing this type of leadership. We want to see this happening all over Australia."

Caroline Hughes: "We're very grateful for ABC on leading the way on cultural respect and protocols. We are hoping that this sets a precedent across Australia in all forms of media."

Mr Ritchie said this kind of collaboration with local Indigenous communities was important for media organisations looking to incorporate Indigenous language or cultural traditions in their content.

"It is essential that traditional owners and elders are consulted in anything that concerns their culture," he said.

"An Acknowledgement of Country on television is, after all, an expression of respect.

"It's therefore natural, particularly on something as public as a news bulletin, that traditional owners have input in the process and approve of the end product."

Ngunnawal Elders worked closely with the news team to incorporate the Acknowledgement of Country into the bulletins. ( ABC News: Ian Cutmore )

Members of the Elders Council and their families sat in the studio to watch the first bulletin acknowledging country go to air.

The Canberra news service is the first to include an Acknowledgement of Country and the ABC is looking at expanding the initiative to other bulletins around the country.

"It was a very powerful moment and tears were shed by many in the room," Michelle Ainsworth said.

"The response from the Elders Council was very moving and we've had a very positive response from our audience which has congratulated the ABC for doing this."