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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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We all know Australias a nation, because its got history, culture, governance, language and territory.

How are Traditional Owner Nations any different?

We all know Australia's a nation, because it's got history, culture, governance, language and territory.

How are Traditional Owner Nations any different?
... See MoreSee Less

Thanks for having us, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation!

Gabby, Lisa and Sophie headed west today to spend some time with staff at Eastern Maar – talking about cultural fire policy, communications collaborations, and how works progressing caring for and planting at Framlingham Streamside Reserve.

We had a fantastic day (even in the mud!) and were grateful to have the time in Warrnambool. Thank you, Eastern Maar 🫶🏾

Thanks for having us, Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation!

Gabby, Lisa and Sophie headed west today to spend some time with staff at Eastern Maar – talking about cultural fire policy, communications collaborations, and how work's progressing caring for and planting at Framlingham Streamside Reserve.

We had a fantastic day (even in the mud!) and were grateful to have the time in Warrnambool. Thank you, Eastern Maar 🫶🏾
... See MoreSee Less

Theres a little-known and deep-rooted form of racism that doesnt get enough airtime.

Its the racism baked into systems and structures, which consistently under‑resources and over‑scrutinises the organisations Traditional Owners set up to protect Country and culture.

Fortunately, these organisations are an important solution to the very racism they face.

We were proud to contribute a submission and testimony to the parliamentary inquiry into racism against First Nations communities.

We told the parliamentary committee: addressing racial harm to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities involves supporting Traditional Owner Corporations.

Flick through to learn more. 👉🏾

There's a little-known and deep-rooted form of racism that doesn't get enough airtime.

It's the racism baked into systems and structures, which consistently under‑resources and over‑scrutinises the organisations Traditional Owners set up to protect Country and culture.

Fortunately, these organisations are an important solution to the very racism they face.

We were proud to contribute a submission and testimony to the parliamentary inquiry into racism against First Nations communities.

We told the parliamentary committee: addressing racial harm to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities involves supporting Traditional Owner Corporations.

Flick through to learn more. 👉🏾
... See MoreSee Less

“An attack on Traditional Owners’ representative organisations is an attack on Traditional Owners’ sovereignty.”

Our Board director Matt Shanks testified at today’s public hearings for the parliamentary inquiry into racial harm against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – speaking to our submission about the systemic racism faced by Traditional Owners’ representative organisations as they try to do their jobs.

Over an hour of questioning from parliamentarians across the political spectrum, Matt spoke to the barriers facing Traditional Owner Corporations, and the work of the Federation in policy-making and advocacy to try to improve the systems.

“It’s not just individual people who experience racism – but also the structures we set up to protect Country and culture.”

“An attack on Traditional Owners’ representative organisations is an attack on Traditional Owners’ sovereignty.”

Our Board director Matt Shanks testified at today’s public hearings for the parliamentary inquiry into racial harm against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – speaking to our submission about the systemic racism faced by Traditional Owners’ representative organisations as they try to do their jobs.

Over an hour of questioning from parliamentarians across the political spectrum, Matt spoke to the barriers facing Traditional Owner Corporations, and the work of the Federation in policy-making and advocacy to try to improve the systems.

“It’s not just individual people who experience racism – but also the structures we set up to protect Country and culture.”
... See MoreSee Less

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