WOTJOBALUK Elders Council has received a $10,000 Treaty Circle Grant through the state government’s Treaty Community Engagement Program.
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Using the grant, the Wotjobaluk Elders Council will hold a Treaty Circle with Elders and leaders of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagalk peoples.
The Treaty Circle will focus on informing Elders of recent developments in the treaty process and equipping them to better participate in the process’ next stages.
Barengi Gadjin Land Council chief executive Michael Stewart said it was an important step towards furthering Treaty talks.
“Through community consultation with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members, we will be able to have a serious conversation about what they would like a treaty to look like,” he said.
“We will be engaging with as many senior members of the community as we can and running forums across country to engage the conversation.
“It’s also important to include off-country people. Not everyone has the ability to stay in country, so this needs to be as broad and transparent as possible.”
Mr Stewart said the council would hold planning sessions in the future to organise local community forums.
“It’s great to have an open discussion to seriously talk about this issue,” he said.
“This is all about bringing the community together to represent it as best as possible.”
The Treaty Engagement Program supports Traditional Owners groups and other organisations and businesses to engage with communities on Treaty talks.
Insights obtained through the program will be used by the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission as it works to establish the Aboriginal Representative Body as part of the next phase of the treaty process.
A second round of applications are currently under consideration.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Natalie Hutchins said the funding would help support the treaty process and promote self-determination among Victorian Aboriginal communities.
“Treaty will have benefits for all Victorians – promoting reconciliation, fostering shared pride in Aboriginal culture and helping to heal the wounds of the past,” Ms Hutchins said.
Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said the Wimmera’s Aboriginal community would greatly benefit from the Treaty Circle.
“Funding Aboriginal organisations, like the Wotjobaluk Elders Council, to consult and engage on the Treaty process puts the Government’s commitment to self-determination into practice,” Ms Pulford said.
