Dja Dja Wurrung a Traditional Owner Group of Central Victoria whose Country includes Bendigo, has become the first Traditional Owner Group to be entered onto the Treaty Authority’s Negotiations Register, indicating they are ready to begin preparations for Traditional Owner Treaty negotiations.
The Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (DJAARA) acting on behalf of Dja Dja Wurrung People (Djaara) started the process with a formal notification to the Treaty Authority. The Treaty Authority is the independent body overseeing and facilitating Treaty negotiations between First Peoples and the State of Victoria.
Treaty negotiations, and the Treaty Authority’s role, are governed by the rules set out in the Treaty Negotiation Framework (TNF) which was jointly established by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria (Assembly) and the State.
Under the TNF, once a Traditional Owner Group is entered onto the Negotiations Register, this starts a process which includes a public notification stage to ensure the people of Victoria and Traditional Owners are informed of the Treaty process. The Treaty Authority will then work with the Traditional Owner Group on preparations before the State is invited to negotiate.
The TNF sets out the two types of Treaties – a Statewide Treaty, which is currently being negotiated between the Assembly and the State, and Traditional Owner Treaties, to be negotiated between Traditional Owner Groups and the State.
Dja Dja Wurrung is the first group to formally progress their Traditional Owner Treaty plans onto the Negotiations Register.
Thelma Austin, Gunditjmara woman and Treaty Authority Member, said:
“This is an important step for Traditional Owners and their Treaty aspirations on a journey that has been self-determined and hard-fought. Today we acknowledge the culmination of those efforts for Dja Dja Wurrung.”
“We look forward to overseeing a fair and just process with the Treaty Authority’s role in facilitating the journey towards justice, self-determination and empowerment for First Peoples, and to build a solid foundation for reconciliation for all Victorians.”
Jidah Clark, Djab Wurrung man and Treaty Authority Chair, said:
“A diversity of views, lessons and experiences from communities across Victoria have laid strong foundations for Treaty-making in Victoria. Treaties will recast the relationship between First Peoples and the State, bringing us closer together. This is an important marker on the path towards unity.”
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