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Welcome to the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations

We’re the state-wide body fighting for the rights and interests of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives.

About

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 with Country. The Federation’s policy, advocacy and government relations work helps restore Traditional Owners’ authority in frameworks for managing of Country.

View our work for Country

Community

Community wellbeing means strong culture.

The Federation’s work recognises Traditional Owner Corporations as authoritative and representative decision-makers with rights, power, and responsibilities. Our advocacy and services support Traditional Owners to care for Country, culture and community.

View our work for community

Economy

Strong and independent economies sustain Traditional Owner communities and enable self-determination.

The Federation’s research, grant administration, knowledge-sharing and advocacy promote rights-based economic development for Traditional Owner Corporations.

View our work for economy

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 rights, 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 Traditional Owners’ economic development considered as more than just small business grants.

See our impact

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.

Founded in 2013 by Traditional Owner Corporations who recognised they could be stronger together, we are by and for Traditional Owners: their policy and advocacy body, helping to enhance their authority on behalf of their communities.

Our strategy

Resources

Discussion papers
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Information sheets
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Publications
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☀️ Happy NAIDOC from Wadawurrung Dja ☀️

Our (red-mittened) communications advisor Sophie had the pleasure of joining Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporations sunrise ceremony today at Bukareeyoo, or the Ocean Grove spit. 

Corrina Eccles and Michael Cussens welcomed a crowd of hundreds with yidaki, clapsticks, dance, a smoking and speeches, where we learnt Wadawurrung story of place and acknowledged the proud history of advocacy, including through NAIDOC Week celebrations, that see Wadawurrung strong in culture on-Country today.

It was a pleasure to see Sarah and the WTOAC crew and an honour to stand alongside them to start such a significant week.

☀️ Happy NAIDOC from Wadawurrung Dja ☀️

Our (red-mittened) communications advisor Sophie had the pleasure of joining Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation's sunrise ceremony today at Bukareeyoo, or the Ocean Grove spit.

Corrina Eccles and Michael Cussens welcomed a crowd of hundreds with yidaki, clapsticks, dance, a smoking and speeches, where we learnt Wadawurrung story of place and acknowledged the proud history of advocacy, including through NAIDOC Week celebrations, that see Wadawurrung strong in culture on-Country today.

It was a pleasure to see Sarah and the WTOAC crew and an honour to stand alongside them to start such a significant week.
... See MoreSee Less

Thanks for having us, GLaWAC fire crew!

Gabby and Lisa headed to Morwell yesterday for a yarn with GLaWACs fire and ranger team about the whats in the way of cultural fire.

You might remember we support the Cultural Fire Leadership Group. The CFLG (excuse the acronym!) brings Traditional Owners and the Victorian Government together to progress a Traditional Owner-led return of cultural fire to Country. As its secretariat, were producing several big policy papers, including one outlining the policy and legislative barrier in the way of expanding culture fire.

GLaWACs input to this thinking was invaluable – we heard about the challenges, opportunities, and what this team would have been up to in the bush if we hadnt dragged them into the office for a couple of hours!

Were so grateful to the team and appreciate the opportunity to sit together.

Thanks for having us, GLaWAC fire crew!

Gabby and Lisa headed to Morwell yesterday for a yarn with GLaWAC's fire and ranger team about the what's in the way of cultural fire.

You might remember we support the Cultural Fire Leadership Group. The CFLG (excuse the acronym!) brings Traditional Owners and the Victorian Government together to progress a Traditional Owner-led return of cultural fire to Country. As its secretariat, we're producing several big policy papers, including one outlining the policy and legislative barrier in the way of expanding culture fire.

GLaWAC's input to this thinking was invaluable – we heard about the challenges, opportunities, and what this team would have been up to in the bush if we hadn't dragged them into the office for a couple of hours!

We're so grateful to the team and appreciate the opportunity to sit together.
... See MoreSee Less

Happy first birthday to the Yoorrook Justice Commissions final report and official public record. 🎈

Happy first birthday to the Yoorrook Justice Commission's final report and official public record. 🎈 ... See MoreSee Less

Our June newsletter is out!

Grants, jobs, scholarships, Traditional Owner news, and more – its in inboxes of the Traditional Owner Corporation staff members whove signed up.

Message us to join the list for July.

Our June newsletter is out!

Grants, jobs, scholarships, Traditional Owner news, and more – it's in inboxes of the Traditional Owner Corporation staff members who've signed up.

Message us to join the list for July.
... See MoreSee Less

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