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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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Twenty-one years since the “tide of history” denied the first native title claim along the Murray River, we’re near Mildura for an historic native title determination: the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee.

As the Federal Court said at today’s on-Country hearing: tides can change.

Federation staff Jill and Sophie were honoured to join hundreds of others at Kings Billabong today, to acknowledge the historic milestone and decades of tenacity from Latji Latji, Ngintait, and Nyeri Nyeri peoples to see this decision.

The determination doesn’t ‘invent’ connection to Country, or culture – it is overdue recognition of a fact the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee have always known: their unbroken, enduring, and never-ending connection to this Country.

Twenty-one years since the “tide of history” denied the first native title claim along the Murray River, we’re near Mildura for an historic native title determination: the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee.

As the Federal Court said at today’s on-Country hearing: tides can change.

Federation staff Jill and Sophie were honoured to join hundreds of others at Kings Billabong today, to acknowledge the historic milestone and decades of tenacity from Latji Latji, Ngintait, and Nyeri Nyeri peoples to see this decision.

The determination doesn’t ‘invent’ connection to Country, or culture – it is overdue recognition of a fact the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee have always known: their unbroken, enduring, and never-ending connection to this Country.
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Today’s historic native title determination for north-west Victoria isn’t just overdue recognition of Traditional Owners’ enduring connection to Country – it’s an unprecedented opportunity for economic prosperity and stronger futures.

That’s what we said in our media statement welcoming this proud and historic day for Latji Latji, Ngintait, and Nyeri Nyeri peoples: the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee.

Read more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4kN7Dq6

Today’s historic native title determination for north-west Victoria isn’t just overdue recognition of Traditional Owners’ enduring connection to Country – it’s an unprecedented opportunity for economic prosperity and stronger futures.

That’s what we said in our media statement welcoming this proud and historic day for Latji Latji, Ngintait, and Nyeri Nyeri peoples: the First Peoples of the Millewa-Mallee.

Read more 👉🏾 bit.ly/4kN7Dq6
... See MoreSee Less

It’s great to see the ACT recognising thousands of years of cultural and ecological significance of dingo, or Waragul, in Ngunnawal language.

Media reporting this week indicates the ACT Government will reclassify Waragul as a protected native animal, not a pest, following DNA sampling of 20 animals in Namadgi National Park that showed 100 per cent Waragul ancestry, with no domestic dog hybridisation.
 
But Waragul will still be controlled – and by government, not Traditional Owners. 

That’s despite its recognised cultural and spiritual significance. 

Just like we’re seeing here in Victoria.

Traditional Owners have managed animals and plants in the landscape, and peacefully co-existed with species like dingo for tens of thousands of years. It’s time for joint decision-making for culturally significant species between governments and Traditional Owner groups – and we’re ready to help make that happen.

It’s great to see the ACT recognising thousands of years of cultural and ecological significance of dingo, or Waragul, in Ngunnawal language.

Media reporting this week indicates the ACT Government will reclassify Waragul as a protected native animal, not a pest, following DNA sampling of 20 animals in Namadgi National Park that showed 100 per cent Waragul ancestry, with no domestic dog hybridisation.

But Waragul will still be controlled – and by government, not Traditional Owners.

That’s despite its recognised cultural and spiritual significance.

Just like we’re seeing here in Victoria.

Traditional Owners have managed animals and plants in the landscape, and peacefully co-existed with species like dingo for tens of thousands of years. It’s time for joint decision-making for culturally significant species between governments and Traditional Owner groups – and we’re ready to help make that happen.
... See MoreSee Less

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