Home - Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

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

Connect with us on social media

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Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

3 days ago

🔊 Were hosting a conference! 🔊

How can Traditional Owner groups lead the native food industry and protect cultural knowledge? First Nations Knowledge and Economy will show the way.

Our closed conference for Traditional Owner Corporations unpacks the potential of their collective intellectual property rights in native foods and plants – preserving and protecting traditional cultural knowledge, while growing the First Nations economy – and ensures business in native plants happens in a careful and ethical way.

Were grateful to be gathering on Wadawurrung Country at the end of the month with speakers including ANSTO, Storey & Ward Lawyers, Terri Janke and Company Pty Ltd, Trust Provenance, Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, and Northern Australia Aboriginal Kakadu Plum Alliance.

Learn more about our work protecting and promoting Indigenous intellectual property in commercialising native plants through the Traditional Owner Native Foods and Botanicals Strategy.

READ MORE | bit.ly/45thRpz

🔊 We're hosting a conference! 🔊

How can Traditional Owner groups lead the native food industry and protect cultural knowledge? First Nations' Knowledge and Economy will show the way.

Our closed conference for Traditional Owner Corporations unpacks the potential of their collective intellectual property rights in native foods and plants – preserving and protecting traditional cultural knowledge, while growing the First Nations' economy – and ensures business in native plants happens in a careful and ethical way.

We're grateful to be gathering on Wadawurrung Country at the end of the month with speakers including ANSTO, Storey & Ward Lawyers, Terri Janke and Company Pty Ltd, Trust Provenance, Barengi Gadjin Land Council, Saatchi & Saatchi Australia, and Northern Australia Aboriginal Kakadu Plum Alliance.

Learn more about our work protecting and promoting Indigenous intellectual property in commercialising native plants through the Traditional Owner Native Foods and Botanicals Strategy.

READ MORE | bit.ly/45thRpz ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

6 days ago

It’s good to see the government focused on First Nations tourism – now we must make sure investment happens in the right way.

The just-announced First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership is welcome recognition of the vital role Indigenous businesses play in the economy, and of the rich cultural heritage that underpins so many Indigenous tourism experiences.

Whether you’re walking Kooyoora State Park with DJAARA cultural guides, gliding down the Goldburn hearing Taungurung stories of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes), or learning Wurundjeri tool-building and trade on a visit to the protected Wil-im-ee Moor-ring greenstone quarry – Traditional Owners’ knowledge and cultural practice drive incredible Indigenous tourism experiences.

We welcome news of the First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership and its remit to establish a national peak body for Indigenous tourism, and stand ready to assist the Partnership to engage meaningfully with Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations and ensure a future peak is genuinely representative and carrying cultural authority.

Because when the Federation talks First Nations, we’re talking about the Nations of Traditional Owners who are represented by their corporations – a level of community governance and cultural authority that holds Traditional Owners’ collective rights.

Collective rights include those rights in traditional knowledge, lore, stories, songs and cultural practice that drive Indigenous tourism experiences: Indigenous intellectual property.

Traditional Owner groups – as holders of these intellectual property rights – must not be sidelined as this industry grows.

The First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership must ensure Traditional Owner groups benefit from commercial value in their intellectual property and be centred as this exciting and valuable industry grows – and the Federation is ready and willing to help see that happen.

(📷 René Riegal)

It’s good to see the government focused on First Nations tourism – now we must make sure investment happens in the right way.

The just-announced First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership is welcome recognition of the vital role Indigenous businesses play in the economy, and of the rich cultural heritage that underpins so many Indigenous tourism experiences.

Whether you’re walking Kooyoora State Park with DJAARA cultural guides, gliding down the Goldburn hearing Taungurung stories of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes), or learning Wurundjeri tool-building and trade on a visit to the protected Wil-im-ee Moor-ring greenstone quarry – Traditional Owners’ knowledge and cultural practice drive incredible Indigenous tourism experiences.

We welcome news of the First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership and its remit to establish a national peak body for Indigenous tourism, and stand ready to assist the Partnership to engage meaningfully with Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations and ensure a future peak is genuinely representative and carrying cultural authority.

Because when the Federation talks First Nations, we’re talking about the Nations of Traditional Owners who are represented by their corporations – a level of community governance and cultural authority that holds Traditional Owners’ collective rights.

Collective rights include those rights in traditional knowledge, lore, stories, songs and cultural practice that drive Indigenous tourism experiences: Indigenous intellectual property.

Traditional Owner groups – as holders of these intellectual property rights – must not be sidelined as this industry grows.

The First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership must ensure Traditional Owner groups benefit from commercial value in their intellectual property and be centred as this exciting and valuable industry grows – and the Federation is ready and willing to help see that happen.

(📷 René Riegal) ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

7 days ago

Our deep condolences to Darrens family and friends, Barengi Gadjin Land Council and community, and all those who knew and worked alongside Darren. A staunch devoted advocate for Traditional Owners whose legacy will endure.

Our deep condolences to Darren's family and friends, Barengi Gadjin Land Council and community, and all those who knew and worked alongside Darren. A staunch devoted advocate for Traditional Owners whose legacy will endure.Please see our statement regarding the devastating news of our beloved co-executive officer, archaeologist, and dear friend, Darren Griffin's passing.

This statement is shared with permission of Darren and his Family.

Darren’s family has asked that people do not send flowers and instead donate to a memorial fund to support his family at this time.

This fund is found here at this link: ?

We hope everyone is remembering Darren with love and taking care of themselves. ... See MoreSee Less

Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

7 days ago

The new State of the Climate report is as grim as you’d expect.

But Indigenous land management practices are a secret weapon for healing damaged Country and slowing the pace of the worsening climate crisis.

Centring Indigenous land management practices is already making a difference to the health of Country. And more can be done.

Our submission to the Nature Repair Market Act outlined what can be done to remove barriers to centring Traditional Owner land management practices and promote positive outcomes for Traditional Owners and all Victorians.

We said the Nature Repair Market – a government scheme that incentivises actions to restore and protect the environment – can be matched with Australian Indigenous land management practices, recognition of the rights and interests of Traditional Owners beyond the Native Title Act, further funding for Indigenous Rangers – all of which will contribute to improving economic, cultural, social, spiritual, health outcomes for Victorian Traditional Owners and Country.

READ MORE | bit.ly/48s1xGW

STATE OF THE CLIMATE | bit.ly/3YqAOpM

The new State of the Climate report is as grim as you’d expect.

But Indigenous land management practices are a secret weapon for healing damaged Country and slowing the pace of the worsening climate crisis.

Centring Indigenous land management practices is already making a difference to the health of Country. And more can be done.

Our submission to the Nature Repair Market Act outlined what can be done to remove barriers to centring Traditional Owner land management practices and promote positive outcomes for Traditional Owners and all Victorians.

We said the Nature Repair Market – a government scheme that incentivises actions to restore and protect the environment – can be matched with Australian Indigenous land management practices, recognition of the rights and interests of Traditional Owners beyond the Native Title Act, further funding for Indigenous Rangers – all of which will contribute to improving economic, cultural, social, spiritual, health outcomes for Victorian Traditional Owners and Country.

READ MORE | bit.ly/48s1xGW

STATE OF THE CLIMATE | bit.ly/3YqAOpM ... See MoreSee Less

© 2024 Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations