We’re grateful for another big year of work clearing the way to realising Victorian Traditional Owner groups’ rights and interests, and will be straight back into it on the other side of Christmas. Happy holidays!

A win for the Yorta Yorta Nation: four years of disgusting, racist bullying that undermined Traditional Owners' rights to manage Country has been ruled unlawful. abc.net.au/news/2024-12-04/v…

We watched history being made today as Treaty negotiations ceremonially – officially – commenced. As @firstpeoplesvic co-chair Reuben Berg said in his remarks, Treaty is no longer an idea for the future: Treaty is happening now. ✊🏾

Treaty negotiations open on Thursday 21 November 2024. It's a history-making moment that can restore respect between Aboriginal people and the state of Victoria. We'll be there alongside @firstpeoplesvic.

Finding out how the Victorian Government consulted with Traditional Owner groups over its decision to allow dingo killing is an important step towards restoring Traditional Owner group to their rightful place as decision-makers for culturally significant species.

“What we're achieving now is realising the goals of our Elders in the past.” abc.net.au/news/2024-11-07/t…

Tens of thousands of examples of scar trees, rock art, quarries and artefacts stud the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape – a culturally significant site known as Mt Arapiles, cared for by the Djurid Baluk clan of the Wotjobaluk peoples for thousands of years.🧵 (📷 Visit Victoria)

🔊 We're hosting a conference! 🔊 How can Traditional Owner groups lead the native food industry and protect cultural knowledge as business booms? Our closed conference for Traditional Owner Corporations will show the way.

The new State of the Climate report is as grim as you’d expect. But Indigenous land management practices can heal damaged Country and slow the pace of the climate crisis. They're already making a difference to Country's health. And more can be done. bit.ly/3YqAOpM

$23 million for Victorian Traditional Owners, including eight groups brand-new to Indigenous Ranger Program funding! Caring for Country in line with Traditional Owner groups' objectives is important, possible, and happening. nit.com.au/30-10-2024/14582/…

Fraser Island is officially K’gari! The World Heritage-listed sand island now officially carries its Butchulla name. Butchulla Traditional Owners have cared for K’gari for thousands of years, with as many at 500 ancient archaeological sites still present on the island today.

What's Australia's only World Heritage-listed site chosen for its Indigenous cultural values? It's the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape on Gunditjmara Country, near Lake Condah Mission in Victoria's south-west. Budj Bim is a dormant volcano that erupted 30,000 years ago...

New @UniMelb research has found "no evidence" of dingo-dog hybridisation in Victoria – further debunking the pervasive yet incorrect idea that dingoes are dogs. They're dingoes!🧵

The positive outcome is a testament to many people's resilience, strength and determination. Victoria's first recognition and settlement agreement is now being re-negotiated, to build on what Gunaikurnai got and ensure a strong future. gunaikurnai.org/our-communit…

On 22 October 2010, the Federal Court recognised Gunaikurnai as the native title rights holders in around 13,390 square kilometres of Gippsland. On the same day, Gunaikurnai entered into agreements with the Victorian Government under the new Traditional Owner Settlement Act. 🧵

Native dingoes are helping protect Australia's largest population of endangered night parrots by managing predatory feral cats. New research by Ngururrpa Rangers and Parna Ngururrpa Aboriginal Corporation shows the significance of dingo in the landscape. abc.net.au/news/science/2024…

One year ago today a majority of Australian voters rejected the Voice to Parliament. The referendum result was devastating. But it wasn’t the end of the conversation about Aboriginal say over Aboriginal lives – it can be the beginning. 🧵

AFL is a great example of the influence and value of Aboriginal intellectual property. You might know AFL has its origins in a game called marngrook, which is a Gunditjmara word meaning ‘game ball’. 🧵 Image: Marlene Gilson, Marngrook Football, 2015.

It's a missed opportunity that avoided conservation laws' requirements to give proper consideration to Traditional Owners’ rights and interests. Here's the Federation's statement on the dingo protection decision. READ MORE | bit.ly/4dj1JZR

Traditional Owners and dingoes have peacefully co-existed for thousands of years. If we want sustainable management and harmonious co-existence, we should restore Traditional Owners to their rightful role as decision-makers for culturally significant species, including dingo.