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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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Its great to see our testimony to the national truth and justice commission bill in the national media.

National Indigenous Times and Yahoo News Australia picked up this AAP article, which covers Pauls testimony from Tuesday – where we made the case for a permanent commission with strong processes for sharing stories in culturally safe and varied ways.

READ MORE | bit.ly/3BR1TuI

It's great to see our testimony to the national truth and justice commission bill in the national media.

National Indigenous Times and Yahoo News Australia picked up this AAP article, which covers Paul's testimony from Tuesday – where we made the case for a permanent commission with strong processes for sharing stories in culturally safe and varied ways.

READ MORE | bit.ly/3BR1TuI
... See MoreSee Less

“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

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

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