Nation-building, or re-building as it is often also called, is a concept that has evolved out of North America, and the academic research that has accompanied the re-building of First Nations’ communities in the territories now known as the United States and Canada.
Victorian Traditional Owners continue to lead the establishment and functions of innovative co-governance structures to progress the Federation’s strategic policy development in areas like Cultural Fire, Cultural Landscapes, Native Foods and Botanicals, Bio Cultural Diversity and Sea Country. This work contributes to the fundamental power shift away from the State to Traditional Owners. Without this power shift, nation re-building and the transition to self-governance cannot be successful.
The current Victorian Treaty process and future negotiations will continue to impact and influence concepts and understandings of nation re-building over the coming years as groups engage their communities in preparation for the negotiation of their local Treaties.
Nation-building is one of the four pillars of the Federation’s strategic plan that sits alongside Advocacy, Accountability and Knowledge Sharing. The Federation works with Traditional Owner Corporations to understand and support their sustainable development, creating greater capability and capacity to activate the rights, interests and objectives of their people.
We are committed to enabling Traditional Owner Nations to:
- Determine their own nation-building goals and agreement making processes.
- Build sustainable capability and capacity in governance and economic independence.
- Gain and build recognition, strengthening the roles and functions of Traditional Owner Corporations.
In response to advocacy from the Federation and other stakeholders, the Victorian government announced a $13.6 million Traditional Owner Nation-building Package (Package) in August 2019, extending the program with a further $11.12 million in 2021 to enable a wide range of nation-building activities and expand important services and resources for Traditional Owner groups until June 2024.
A core component of the Package is the Nation-building Resource Pool. Administered by the Federation, the Resource Pool provides $5.835 million in flexible funding for nation-building projects that can be delivered by June 2024.
The Resource Pool provides $5.835 million in flexible funding for nation-building projects that can be delivered by June 2024. The funding is available on an equitable basis to Victorian Traditional Owner groups with formal recognition to engage in nation-building activities and prepare for future treaty negotiations or other formal recognition pathways. Projects are being designed and led by Traditional Owner groups based on their identified goals and priorities.
A maximum total amount of $530,000 is available to each formally recognised Traditional Owner group from the Resource Pool.
The Resource Pool is administered by the Federation, with funding decisions made by a Steering Committee including representatives from the Federation, First Nations Legal & Research Services and First Peoples – State Relations, Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Detailed information about the Resource Pool can be found in the Resource Pool Guidelines.
The Information Management Protocol sets out how Traditional Owner knowledge and information will be protected and managed by the Federation, First Nations and First Peoples – State Relations in relation to the Nation-building Resource Pool including, in particular, information that may relate to formal recognition processes or future treaty negotiations.
For more information, contact Kurt Sutton from the Federation on 0409 788 501.
In response to advocacy from the Federation and other stakeholders, the Victorian government announced a $13.6 million Traditional Owner Nation-building Package (Package) in August 2019, extending the program with a further $11.12 million in 2021 to enable a wide range of nation-building activities and expand important services and resources for Traditional Owner groups until June 2024.
The Package is being delivered by three partner organisations; the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations (Federation), First Nations Legal & Research Services (First Nations) and First Peoples – State Relations (FP-SR), Department of Premier and Cabinet and aims to enable Traditional Owners across Victoria to engage in nation-building activities and prepare for future treaty negotiations if they choose to do so.
The package includes programs delivered across three streams: Nation, Formation and Foundation:
- Nation: Nation-building Resource Pool, administered by the Federation
- Formation: Traditional Owner mapping and formal recognition support delivered by First Nations Legal & Research Services.
- Foundation: Strong Roots for Our Futures Program and Engagement Officers, delivered by First Peoples – State Relations, Department of Premier and Cabinet. For more info visit the Strong Roots homepage.
Nation Building support is also available for Traditional Owner groups in the four regions without formal recognition. If your Traditional Owner group is in one of the four regions and you’re keen to realise your Nation Building vision, contact the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Strong Roots for Our Futures.
Each corporation has been funded $530,000 to undertake nation building projects.
Barengi Gadjin Land Council
- This project has two nation strengthening components. The first supports bringing families together on Country to strengthen connection and kinship, the second is a Wergaia language revival project. Both components have a strong focus on engaging Elders and youth and facilitating intergenerational knowledge sharing and connection.
DJAARA
- This project will progress a Treaty or Treaty-like agreement with the Local Government Authorities within the Dja Dja Wurrung Recognition and Settlement area.
- A second project will reengage and reenergise Djaara following the isolation and disconnection experienced throughout the Coronavirus pandemic.
Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation
- This project will develop organisational and community capacity to ensure the long-term growth and sustainability of the corporation. This will be undertaken through the delivery of targeted cross-functional and corporation-wide projects and activities to strengthen governance, management of Country, economic independence, and preparations for undertaking negotiations.
- A second project will deveop a language preservation program and framework for identified languages within the Eastern Maar estate, implementing a key goal from Eastern Maar’s country plan “Meerreengeeye Ngakeepoorryeeyt (Our Country far seeing)” to reinvigorate language/mother tongue.
First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee
- This project will develop a Master Plan for Ned’s Corner in preparation for the handover of the property to Traditional Owners. Working with the community to identify the right bio-cultural programs, the project will enable social and economic development for the Corporation. The Master Plan will focus on project planning to include intergenerational knowledge sharing, as well as identifying and protecting cultural heritage for future generations.
- The second, interconnected project will be a Governance and Organisational Strengthening Project. The focus and anticipated outcomes of family re-engagement and healing built into this project will build the foundations for a stronger united community. This will be achieved by governance strengthening and reform, improved communications and strategic and organisational planning.
Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Corporation
- This project supports engagement in an extensive and comprehensive community engagement process to identify community aspirations for the future. Gunditjmara Treaty and Nation-building workers were trained and employed to work with family groups to strengthen treaty readiness by delivering information on Treaty, nation-building and economic strategy and gathering community aspirations. A 2-day community gathering will discuss shared goals and promote community togetherness.
- A second project assists clan/family groups to build on previous nation-building work to participate in the development of a Nation Building and Economic Strategy Framework. The Framework will have a clear vision and purpose, ensuring a self-government approach and economic independence to enable true self determination, decision making and strengthening cultural connection and identity. This will empower family/clan groups to have a voice in important conversations and contribute to decision making.
Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation
- This project suppors a concerted engagement process of information, education and empowerment to build capacity in preparation for Treaty negotiations. The focus is on strengthening family/clan group conversations through gatherings and providing culturally appropriate training in corporate governance and administrative skills to best prepare for future treaty negotiations.
- A second project supports Stage 2 of GLaWAC’s Bushfoods Project – Bush to Bowl. This project will grow and source a local supply chain of bushfoods and plants direct to Gunaikurnai’s Bush Café. The project will provide training and employment and opportunities for sharing traditional knowledge. The project will strengthen cultural heritage and knowledge and strengthen self-determination by increasing leadership and participation of the community in the bushfoods industry.
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
- This project will develop a Wadawurrung Traditional Owner language dictionary (including a progressive web application), and catalogue and return to Country a large collection of 50 – 100,000 artefacts that have been returned to the Community.
