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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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Resources

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Aunty Joy Murphy has made a statement about the Melbourne Storms apology over its cancelled Welcome to Country in April.

“What we have learnt over the past month is that our culture, our ceremony, is not understood or respected and this makes us feel very sad. 

“Cultural practice cannot be used as a token gesture. Our ceremony and performance are a deep and enduring lore for our people who come from the oldest, continuous,  living culture in the World. Welcome to Country is intended to unite us all in a deep rich history of our country. 

“To ALL who sent messages of overwhelming support brought tears of happiness to us. Your actions taken by so many connected to the club speaks clearly and loudly of intolerance of racism and discrimination. Your powerful words expressed the immense hurt we endure and the deep regret of shame.”

The Federation stands with Aunty Joy, Djirri Djirri, Te Hononga o Nga Iwi and Nga Matai Purua in their opposition to the Storm Boards association with the divisive and racist Advance Australia group, and sends our deepest respect to Aunty Joy and the wider Wurundjeri community.

Aunty Joy Murphy has made a statement about the Melbourne Storm's apology over its cancelled Welcome to Country in April.

“What we have learnt over the past month is that our culture, our ceremony, is not understood or respected and this makes us feel very sad.

“Cultural practice cannot be used as a token gesture. Our ceremony and performance are a deep and enduring lore for our people who come from the oldest, continuous, living culture in the World. Welcome to Country is intended to unite us all in a deep rich history of our country.

“To ALL who sent messages of overwhelming support brought tears of happiness to us. Your actions taken by so many connected to the club speaks clearly and loudly of intolerance of racism and discrimination. Your powerful words expressed the immense hurt we endure and the deep regret of shame.”

The Federation stands with Aunty Joy, Djirri Djirri, Te Hononga o Nga Iwi and Nga Matai Purua in their opposition to the Storm Board's association with the divisive and racist Advance Australia group, and sends our deepest respect to Aunty Joy and the wider Wurundjeri community.
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The success of the Federal Government’s new approach to Aboriginal economic policy will be in its implementation, not rhetoric – and it must invest in Victorian Traditional Owner groups and take up their Economic Development Roadmap to see economic justice.

That’s what we said in our latest media release, which welcomes the Prime Minister’s Garma Festival announcement of $75 million for native title holders, $70 million for First Nations’ renewable energy projects, and $35 million for mobile TAFE in remote communities – and a promised new approach to partnership with First Nations communities.

Federation interim CEO Kaley Nicholson said nothing less than decision-making would be accepted – and it’s more than selecting mentorships for mob.

“We’re calling for an economic transformation that genuinely puts us as Traditional Owners back in control of our lives. Economic independence as outlined in the Roadmap will drive generational change for First Nations communities and help realise justice for our people.” 

Read the statement 👉🏾 bit.ly/3H5vofd

Download the Roadmap 👉🏾 bit.ly/3J0oCI2

The success of the Federal Government’s new approach to Aboriginal economic policy will be in its implementation, not rhetoric – and it must invest in Victorian Traditional Owner groups and take up their Economic Development Roadmap to see economic justice.

That’s what we said in our latest media release, which welcomes the Prime Minister’s Garma Festival announcement of $75 million for native title holders, $70 million for First Nations’ renewable energy projects, and $35 million for mobile TAFE in remote communities – and a promised new approach to partnership with First Nations communities.

Federation interim CEO Kaley Nicholson said nothing less than decision-making would be accepted – and it’s more than selecting mentorships for mob.

“We’re calling for an economic transformation that genuinely puts us as Traditional Owners back in control of our lives. Economic independence as outlined in the Roadmap will drive generational change for First Nations communities and help realise justice for our people.”

Read the statement 👉🏾 bit.ly/3H5vofd

Download the Roadmap 👉🏾 bit.ly/3J0oCI2
... See MoreSee Less

Traditional Owners strong on-Country: its part of our vision, and a key pillar of our latest piece of work.

You might have heard were developing a strategy to help Traditional Owner corporations grow strong, skilled and sustainable workforces on-Country – and we’re speaking directly with Traditional Owner groups to ensure it captures their experiences.

This work will chart a practical path for Traditional Owner corporations to grow the size, skills and long-term sustainability of their workforces – helping to strengthen culture and language at the same time as deepening organisational capacity.

If youre keen to speak with our team, and have the strategy respond to your circumstances, wed love to hear from you.

Contact Gabby on gabriella.belfrage-maher@fvtoc.com.au to book your meeting and share your thoughts. 

And thanks to our friends at First People of the MIllewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation for permission to use these great photos!

Traditional Owners strong on-Country: it's part of our vision, and a key pillar of our latest piece of work.

You might have heard we're developing a strategy to help Traditional Owner corporations grow strong, skilled and sustainable workforces on-Country – and we’re speaking directly with Traditional Owner groups to ensure it captures their experiences.

This work will chart a practical path for Traditional Owner corporations to grow the size, skills and long-term sustainability of their workforces – helping to strengthen culture and language at the same time as deepening organisational capacity.

If you're keen to speak with our team, and have the strategy respond to your circumstances, we'd love to hear from you.

Contact Gabby on [email protected] to book your meeting and share your thoughts.

And thanks to our friends at First People of the MIllewa-Mallee Aboriginal Corporation, Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation for permission to use these great photos!
... See MoreSee Less

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