Vol. No. Vol. 2518No. 1827
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Wednesday,November January 13, 2016 Wednesday, 2, 2022
VIBRANT: Performers, from left, Anna Rodway, Carolyn Bock, Madi Nunn, Helen Hopkins and Candace Miles, of Three Birds Theatre and The Shift Theatre’s show ‘Garage Girls’, were among the crowd to open the biennial Nati Frinj Festival during its ‘Fabulous Frinj Fashion Fiesta’ parade on Friday. The festival returned for the first time since 2019 and hosted a range of performances, exhibitions, music and community events across three days. More photos, visit www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Landmark recognition T
BY JESSICA GRIMBLE
he signing of a landmark document commits to recognising culture, traditional practices and unique relationship to Country for the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk peoples of the Wotjobaluk Nations, while also acknowledging the atrocities of colonisation. Wotjobaluk Nations and the State of Victoria last week signed a ‘Recognition and Settlement Agreement’ to
recognise and give effect to the Traditional Owner rights under the ‘Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010’. The State reached the agreement with Barengi Gadjin Land Council, as the Traditional Owner group entity appointed by its family groups, after years of advocacy. The agreement gives rise to Traditional Owners in supporting the management of Crown land and Country, supports strategic and economic growth and cultural activities, and supports employment for rangers.
It will hand back culturally significant sites to Traditional Owners, who now also have the opportunity to practice their ‘cultural right’ to hunt, fish and camp on Country. The agreement was made with the land council on behalf of the WJJWJ peoples whom it recognises has lived in the Wimmera ‘since the beginning of time’. Its ancestors are Pelham Cameron, Albert Coombes, Capital Harrison, Richard Kennedy, Thomas Marks, Archibald Pepper, Augusta Robinson and Arthur Wellington.
The agreement acknowledges Bunjil and the creation stories of the land, waterholes, animals and plants; of a ‘lifeblood’ connection to Barringgi Gadyin, now known as the Wimmera River, its source of water and food and spiritual and cultural connection to ancestors; and of cultural connections to Country, including traditional land management practices. It acknowledges the arrival of European settlement in the 1830s and the obtaining, dispossession and control of Aboriginal land, some-
times with ‘extreme violence’, upon colonisation – which brought about ‘rapid and devastating change’ for ancestors. It acknowledges the policies and practices of successive governments, their agencies, other organisations and individuals that ‘substantially obstructed’ the ability of the Indigenous community to practice tradition, customs and language and access Country and its resources. Continued page 3
IN THIS ISSUE • Highway duplication on agenda • Federal Budget 2022 • Cricket underway Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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