Traditional Owner Partnerships

DEECA recognises the unique rights and obligations held by Traditional Owners to care for Country and developing partnerships with Traditional Owners in land management is key to improving how we care for and manage our forests. The current program of forest management reform is an important opportunity to do this.

We understand that there is much to do to enable meaningful and enduring partnerships with Traditional Owners. It is a long-term proposition, which requires shared authority and decision making. The Traditional Owner authored Cultural Landscapes Strategy sets out long-term pathways for Traditional Owners to lead the planning and management of Country in line with their cultural obligations to care for Country.

This strategy serves a vitally important role in providing direction to the Victorian government about how it can enable Traditional Owner self-determination in land management.

Recently, Traditional Owner Corporations were represented on the Eminent Panel for Community Engagement and the Great Outdoors Taskforce which recommended more active roles for Traditional Owners in forest management. Through these processes Traditional Owners have been supported to begin undertaking Reading Country work, including cultural values assessments that help document, record, map and protect Indigenous knowledge and practice.

This important work supports Traditional Owners’ ongoing connection to Country and their rights to maintain, protect and develop the past, present and future manifestations of Aboriginal culture. Pilots to test collaborative management arrangements and Traditional Owner-led forest management planning are also underway, these pilots support two-way learning between the Department and Traditional Owners.

DEECA acknowledges and respects Victorian Traditional Owners as the original custodians of Victoria’s land and waters, their unique role in caring for Country and deep spiritual connection to it. DEECA acknowledges Traditional Owners’ knowledge sovereignty. We honour Elders past and present whose knowledge and wisdom has ensured the continuation of culture and traditional practices.