CONFUSION over Warrnambool's indigenous heritage has prompted the city council to change its official welcome message.It has dropped reference to two specific tribal groups and changed to a more generic description acknowledging the "traditional custodians of the lands of this general area".The wording on five city welcome signs would not be changed until expert advice clarified the issue, the council said.The official mayor's message since November 2003 and welcome signs on the city's main entrance routes acknowledged "the Gunditjmara nation and the Kirrae Whurrong people".The Standard understands there are at least four other clans with part of their traditional territory inside the municipality's borders. Robert Lowe Snr, an elder with the Peek Whurrong tribe, called for his clan to be recognised at a recent public forum.Mayor Michael Neoh and city chief executive Bruce Anson said expert clarification was being sought on the complex issue."We want to make sure we get it right once and for all," Cr Neoh said."If there is a peak state body on this we need to speak with them and would be happy to talk to all stakeholders. I'm very supportive of our indigenous community and their contribution to society."When I'm speaking at a public function I'll still acknowledge the Gunditjmara nation which takes in all the south-west."Mr Anson said the official wording was changed in an "endeavour not to offend indigenous people . . . while we seek advice on the correct terminology". "We believed what we had been using was right," he said."If our signage is found to be incorrect we will change it."Mr Lowe said the council decision was a step in the right direction, but he still wanted Peek Whurrong recognised as among the original residents of Warrnambool."It annoyed me that we were treated as foreigners in our own traditional country," he said.The change was welcomed by two of the region's Aboriginal leaders, Geoff Clark and Lenny Clarke.Mr Clark, the administrator of Framlingham Aboriginal Trust, said he was encouraged by the council's efforts to make "appropriate" changes."The more general terminology recognises the different groups," he said."There are 56 traditional Koori groups in south-west Victoria and five dialects."Mr Clarke, a Framlingham elder and co-chairman of the Land Justice Group of Victoria, said the council's changes showed respect to all traditional clans."It would be too hard to recognise every little clan," he said. But he criticised Mr Lowe for interfering."You can't just go around on your own changing the system," he said."Kirrae Whurrong was included in the city's document because it was the major clan in this area."Mr Clarke said land rights in the south-west was yet to be settled, with three groups claiming the coastal area between Warrnambool and Anglesea.Moyne Shire Council recognises the Gunditjmara, Girai Wurrung and Djab Wurrung people as "the traditional custodians of the land on which Moyne Shire is situated".