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Welcome to the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

The Federation is the Victorian state-wide body that convenes and advocates for the rights and interests of Traditional Owners while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives.

About Us

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land we work on as the First Peoples of this Country.

Country

Healthy Country means healthy communities. Our work recognises Traditional Owners’ rights and responsibilities to care and make decisions for Country.

Traditional Owner groups have knowledge, rights and responsibilities, stemming from 65,000 years of experience on Country. The Federation works in the following areas to embed Traditional Owner voices in management of Country.

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Community

Community wellbeing means strong culture, people and place.

The Federation’s work recognises Traditional Owner groups as authoritative decision-makers with rights and power. Our advocacy, programs and services enable Traditional Owners to get on with the business of caring for Country, culture and community.

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Impact

The Federation’s advocacy shapes the landscape in which Victorian Traditional Owner corporations do their important work.

We have put cultural fire and cultural water on the agenda for government, sought greater protections for Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property, fought for a fair place in the expanding native foods and botanicals industry, championed treaty and self-determination, supported a drastic reconsideration of how our cultural heritage is approached at both state and national levels, and worked to have economic development considered as more than just small business grants.

 

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About

The Federation is the Victorian state-wide body that convenes and advocates for the rights and interests of Traditional Owner groups while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives.

We support the progress of agreement-making and participation in decision-making to enhance the authority of Traditional Owner Corporations on behalf of their communities.

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Resources

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Today marks 16 years since Australia finally signed on to respect internationally recognised Indigenous rights – but UNDRIP is still not part of our laws.

Embedding Indigenous rights into domestic Australian laws by implementing UNDRIP is well within reach. We know the steps; we need political will.

The Federation has contributed policy thinking to the ‘how’ of implementing UNDRIP – which would recognise Traditional Owners’ rights, remove barriers to self-determination, and realising the ultimate goal of those UNDRIP rights being exercised.

SEE MORE | bit.ly/4ghqJUd

Today marks 16 years since Australia finally signed on to respect internationally recognised Indigenous rights – but UNDRIP is still not part of our laws.

Embedding Indigenous rights into domestic Australian laws by implementing UNDRIP is well within reach. We know the steps; we need political will.

The Federation has contributed policy thinking to the ‘how’ of implementing UNDRIP – which would recognise Traditional Owners’ rights, remove barriers to self-determination, and realising the ultimate goal of those UNDRIP rights being exercised.

SEE MORE | bit.ly/4ghqJUd
... See MoreSee Less

Gabby, Jill, Sophie and Steph had a ball a couple of weeks ago visiting Barengi Gadjin Land Councils Dalki Garringa Native Nursery.

While a fair bit of seedling shopping happened on our visit, the reason we were up was to see the repairs and rebuilding that have happened at the nursery, thanks to the grant program we administer for Emergency Recovery Victoria.

Dalki Garringa was left in disarray following the October 2022 floods – floodwaters damaged walkways and infrastructure, clogged drains, and swept weeds into areas raising precious native seeds and seedlings. But last month, we walked along smoothly paved and safe gravel pathways, beside repaired and working irrigation systems, and out the doors with thriving, healthy native seedlings.

Dalki Garringa (which means ‘good growing’ in Wergaia language) was established in 1946 as the Wail Nursery and bought by BGLC in 2017 as a key step towards economic independence for the Wotjobaluk Nations.

It was such a pleasure to see this incredible work in action and hear about the local Aboriginal workforce starting careers at the nursery, the work to restore Country being started in seed-raising, the traditional knowledge being retained and applied, and BGLC’s big visions for a strong, sustaining future for this place. 

It was a pleasure to walk on on Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country and we’re grateful to BGLC for the opportunity!

Gabby, Jill, Sophie and Steph had a ball a couple of weeks ago visiting Barengi Gadjin Land Council's Dalki Garringa Native Nursery.

While a fair bit of seedling shopping happened on our visit, the reason we were up was to see the repairs and rebuilding that have happened at the nursery, thanks to the grant program we administer for Emergency Recovery Victoria.

Dalki Garringa was left in disarray following the October 2022 floods – floodwaters damaged walkways and infrastructure, clogged drains, and swept weeds into areas raising precious native seeds and seedlings. But last month, we walked along smoothly paved and safe gravel pathways, beside repaired and working irrigation systems, and out the doors with thriving, healthy native seedlings.

Dalki Garringa (which means ‘good growing’ in Wergaia language) was established in 1946 as the Wail Nursery and bought by BGLC in 2017 as a key step towards economic independence for the Wotjobaluk Nations.

It was such a pleasure to see this incredible work in action and hear about the local Aboriginal workforce starting careers at the nursery, the work to restore Country being started in seed-raising, the traditional knowledge being retained and applied, and BGLC’s big visions for a strong, sustaining future for this place.

It was a pleasure to walk on on Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country and we’re grateful to BGLC for the opportunity!
... See MoreSee Less

Yoorrook Justice Commission’s report is the first of its kind in Australia and will be delivered by an historic walk from Portland to Parliament.

From 25 May to 18 June, Yoorrook Deputy Chair Travis Lovett will walk from the place colonisation began to the house where truth can transform the future. 

Everyone is invited to join the journey, which aims to bring everyone together to walk toward truth, celebrate the strength and resistance of Aboriginal people, and be proud to have the oldest living culture in the world as ours.  

The Federation team will be joining the walk, and hope to see you there.

LEARN MORE | yoorrook.org.au/walkfortruth

Yoorrook Justice Commission’s report is the first of its kind in Australia and will be delivered by an historic walk from Portland to Parliament.

From 25 May to 18 June, Yoorrook Deputy Chair Travis Lovett will walk from the place colonisation began to the house where truth can transform the future.

Everyone is invited to join the journey, which aims to bring everyone together to walk toward truth, celebrate the strength and resistance of Aboriginal people, and be proud to have the oldest living culture in the world as ours.

The Federation team will be joining the walk, and hope to see you there.

LEARN MORE | yoorrook.org.au/walkfortruth
... See MoreSee Less

We all understand it’s not okay to climb on Uluru.

Country all over Australia deserves the same care and respect.

Places like Dyurrite, Gariwerd, Budj Bim and more house tens of thousands of years of deep spiritual connection, ancient artefacts of national significance, and are vibrant living examples of Traditional Owners’ continuing cultural practice and care for Country – an enduring, unbroken line stretching back sixty-five thousand years and continuing today. Incredible.

Members of every Australian community benefit from the careful custodianship of Country from Traditional Owner groups, and must continue to listen to what Traditional Owners say about their Country and cultural heritage.

There’s grubby media commentary floating around that we won’t dignify with a specific response, but a reminder: Traditional Owners have obligations to care for Country, and the wider community’s listening and support helps enable this care to continue.

We all understand it’s not okay to climb on Uluru.

Country all over Australia deserves the same care and respect.

Places like Dyurrite, Gariwerd, Budj Bim and more house tens of thousands of years of deep spiritual connection, ancient artefacts of national significance, and are vibrant living examples of Traditional Owners’ continuing cultural practice and care for Country – an enduring, unbroken line stretching back sixty-five thousand years and continuing today. Incredible.

Members of every Australian community benefit from the careful custodianship of Country from Traditional Owner groups, and must continue to listen to what Traditional Owners say about their Country and cultural heritage.

There’s grubby media commentary floating around that we won’t dignify with a specific response, but a reminder: Traditional Owners have obligations to care for Country, and the wider community’s listening and support helps enable this care to continue.
... See MoreSee Less

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