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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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Animals

Climate

Cultural Landscapes

Fire

Heritage

Plants

Water

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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Aboriginal Culture and Healing Flood Recovery Grant Program

Country-based planning services

First Principles Review

Nation-building

Rights

Treaty

Economy

Economic development supports community wellbeing and is critical to enabling self-determination.

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Aboriginal-owned joint ventures

Indigenous preferential procurement

Local government

Native foods and botanicals business grants

Native foods and botanicals strategy

Renewable energy

Victorian Aboriginal economic development

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.

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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10 Year Anniversary

Contact Us

Federation Enterprises

Memberships

Our Partners

Strategic Documents

Welcome to Country

Resources

Discussion papers

Information sheets

Publications

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Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

16 hours ago

“This is a crucial step in restoring and rebalancing power relationships in this country and laying the foundation for treaty.”

This afternoon our CEO Paul Paton appeared at the public hearings for the draft Truth and Justice Commission Bill, which – if passed – would create a national truth-telling body to investigate historic and ongoing injustices again Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, like Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Paul answered questions spanning the Commission’s funding and timespan, the importance of cultural authority and best practice for community consultation, different types of evidence-giving and ensuring marginalised people can have their voices heard, considerations in appointing Commissioners, lessons from Yoorrook, and whether to wait until its final report before commencing a national process (it was a firm “don’t wait” from us there).

Our submission – which Paul spoke to – outlines how a future Commission could be culturally safe, robust and rights-based, and centres Traditional Owner Corporations as representative, inclusive community bodies that have a central role to play in truth-telling and treaty processes.

Thank you to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for the opportunity to participate.

Senator Jana Stewart David Shoebridge Senator Dorinda Cox

READ MORE | bit.ly/3Y9cYOY

“This is a crucial step in restoring and rebalancing power relationships in this country and laying the foundation for treaty.”

This afternoon our CEO Paul Paton appeared at the public hearings for the draft Truth and Justice Commission Bill, which – if passed – would create a national truth-telling body to investigate historic and ongoing injustices again Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, like Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Paul answered questions spanning the Commission’s funding and timespan, the importance of cultural authority and best practice for community consultation, different types of evidence-giving and ensuring marginalised people can have their voices heard, considerations in appointing Commissioners, lessons from Yoorrook, and whether to wait until its final report before commencing a national process (it was a firm “don’t wait” from us there).

Our submission – which Paul spoke to – outlines how a future Commission could be culturally safe, robust and rights-based, and centres Traditional Owner Corporations as representative, inclusive community bodies that have a central role to play in truth-telling and treaty processes.

Thank you to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for the opportunity to participate.

Senator Jana Stewart David Shoebridge Senator Dorinda Cox

READ MORE | bit.ly/3Y9cYOY ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

22 hours ago

It’s public hearings for the truth-telling bill, and we’re thrilled to be appearing at the Aboriginal Advancement League today.

Federation CEO Paul Paton will speak at a public hearing for the draft Truth and Justice Commission Bill, which – if passed – would create a national truth-telling body to investigate historic and ongoing injustices again Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, like Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission.

Paul will speak to our submission to the Bill, which urged a future Commission to seek cultural and community authority (including through engaging with Traditional Owner Corporations), embed internationally established Indigenous human rights into its design, and take the best parts of Yoorrook Justice Commission – to ensure a truth-telling process that is culturally safe and meaningful.

Thank you to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for the opportunity, and to senators Senator Dorinda Cox and David Shoebridge for proposing this Bill – an important step towards heeding the call of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

READ MORE | bit.ly/3Y9cYOY

It’s public hearings for the truth-telling bill, and we’re thrilled to be appearing at the Aboriginal Advancement League today.

Federation CEO Paul Paton will speak at a public hearing for the draft Truth and Justice Commission Bill, which – if passed – would create a national truth-telling body to investigate historic and ongoing injustices again Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, like Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission.

Paul will speak to our submission to the Bill, which urged a future Commission to seek cultural and community authority (including through engaging with Traditional Owner Corporations), embed internationally established Indigenous human rights into its design, and take the best parts of Yoorrook Justice Commission – to ensure a truth-telling process that is culturally safe and meaningful.

Thank you to the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs for the opportunity, and to senators Senator Dorinda Cox and David Shoebridge for proposing this Bill – an important step towards heeding the call of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

READ MORE | bit.ly/3Y9cYOY ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

2 days ago

The Voice referendum was “ultimately about who we are as a nation” – a painful experience that provided a foundation of momentum on which we now build, says Senator Jana Stewart.

It was an honour to attend Senator Stewart’s oration on today’s anniversary of the Voice to Parliament referendum at the Aboriginal Advancement League – Australia’s oldest Aboriginal rights organisation and the place where Senator Stewart said she watched the apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008.

The referendum was the most significant national focus on Aboriginal affairs since that apology, and was a time Senator Steward described as both political and deeply personal – “about my life, me and my people, my family, my community”.

In a reflective speech spanning the referendum’s buildup and aftermath, Senator Stewart addressed the negative impacts of a misinformed and hostile campaign: 13YARN received an 108% increase in calls about racism, trauma and abuse, and the senator heard people describe the vitriol as dehumanising, painful, and undermining hard-won progress towards reconciliation.

It was also about recognition, and about justice, equality, and a better future for the next generations.

Referendum day felt like “hope, anxiety and solidarity”, a phone call from the prime minister, and the realisation in a chemist queue that three in five Australians voted no – “who in this line wrote two letters not three?”

But it was also: 6.2 million Yes voters.

6.2 million people who stood up for change.

Millions of Australians who believe in justice and reconciliation, who all have a hand in the future – through the decisions we make about where we spend our money, the words we use, the work we continue to do. We continue to push for the rights and recognition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples deserve.

“Thank you for walking this path with us.”

The Voice referendum was “ultimately about who we are as a nation” – a painful experience that provided a foundation of momentum on which we now build, says Senator Jana Stewart.

It was an honour to attend Senator Stewart’s oration on today’s anniversary of the Voice to Parliament referendum at the Aboriginal Advancement League – Australia’s oldest Aboriginal rights organisation and the place where Senator Stewart said she watched the apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008.

The referendum was the most significant national focus on Aboriginal affairs since that apology, and was a time Senator Steward described as both political and deeply personal – “about my life, me and my people, my family, my community”.

In a reflective speech spanning the referendum’s buildup and aftermath, Senator Stewart addressed the negative impacts of a misinformed and hostile campaign: 13YARN received an 108% increase in calls about racism, trauma and abuse, and the senator heard people describe the vitriol as dehumanising, painful, and undermining hard-won progress towards reconciliation.

It was also about recognition, and about justice, equality, and a better future for the next generations.

Referendum day felt like “hope, anxiety and solidarity”, a phone call from the prime minister, and the realisation in a chemist queue that three in five Australians voted no – “who in this line wrote two letters not three?”

But it was also: 6.2 million Yes voters.

6.2 million people who stood up for change.

Millions of Australians who believe in justice and reconciliation, who all have a hand in the future – through the decisions we make about where we spend our money, the words we use, the work we continue to do. We continue to push for the rights and recognition Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples deserve.

“Thank you for walking this path with us.” ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

2 days ago

One year ago today a majority of Australian voters rejected the Voice to Parliament.

The referendum result was devastating. But it wasn’t the end of the conversation about Aboriginal say over Aboriginal lives – it can be the beginning.

The Federation remains firmly in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the importance of Voice, Truth and Treaty in recognising First Nations’ sovereignty and moving toward a better future for everyone.

Recognising sovereignty – as called for in the Uluru Statement – means recognising and respecting Traditional Owner groups as the authoritative, representative and capable Nations they are, and inviting them in to every level of decision-making to jointly make decisions for Country and community.

This genuine partnership is possible, it’s happening, and we can do even more.

Traditional Owner groups have prepared frameworks and strategies for restoring cultural management of landscapes, fire and wildlife. We urge governments, their agencies, and resource managers to follow these plans, invite Traditional Owner groups in, and respect their ability to make decisions for their Country and community.

Respecting Traditional Owner groups’ self-determination is the right thing to do – and leads to better outcomes for the whole community.

LEARN MORE | bit.ly/4h5Igz6

One year ago today a majority of Australian voters rejected the Voice to Parliament.

The referendum result was devastating. But it wasn’t the end of the conversation about Aboriginal say over Aboriginal lives – it can be the beginning.

The Federation remains firmly in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the importance of Voice, Truth and Treaty in recognising First Nations’ sovereignty and moving toward a better future for everyone.

Recognising sovereignty – as called for in the Uluru Statement – means recognising and respecting Traditional Owner groups as the authoritative, representative and capable Nations they are, and inviting them in to every level of decision-making to jointly make decisions for Country and community.

This genuine partnership is possible, it’s happening, and we can do even more.

Traditional Owner groups have prepared frameworks and strategies for restoring cultural management of landscapes, fire and wildlife. We urge governments, their agencies, and resource managers to follow these plans, invite Traditional Owner groups in, and respect their ability to make decisions for their Country and community.

Respecting Traditional Owner groups’ self-determination is the right thing to do – and leads to better outcomes for the whole community.

LEARN MORE | bit.ly/4h5Igz6 ... See MoreSee Less

© 2024 Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations