City signs First Nations agreement

THE City of Greater Bendigo and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, also known as Djaara, have signed what’s being called a “milestone agreement”.

Known as a Yilingga Marna, or shake hands in Dja Dja Wurrung language, Djaara CEO Rodney Carter said the agreement would have meaningful impacts on the relationship between the region’s traditional owners and the municipality.

“Yilingga Marna builds on existing mutual trust and respect between Djaara and the City, and takes agreement-making between our organisations to a new level,” he said.

“The agreement recognises the unique status and rights of Dja Dja Wurrung People as traditional owners and acknowledges the past, when our people were forcibly removed from their homelands and country was turned upside down in the frenzied grab for gold and grazing land.

“This milestone agreement will create a better outcome for both parties.

“It will streamline procedures, which will enable the City to continue delivering benefits for the community, while supporting the healing of Dja Dja Wurrung country and Dja Dja Wurrung people.

“We congratulate the City of Greater Bendigo on its commitment and leadership in developing this initiative.”

The document was signed beside the Frog Ponds in White Hills on Monday by representatives of Djaara and the City.

Municipal CEO Craig Niemann said the document, and what it stands for, could act as a model for other councils.

“As we continue to invest in this relationship, we learn more about the priorities of each organisation and, in turn, are supporting each other to deliver great outcomes,” he said.

“We hope this agreement could be a model for local government across Australia to support reconciliation with, and self-determination of, traditional owners.

“The agreement also delivers on a number of commitments in the City’s Barpangu Reconciliation Plan to help Dja Dja Wurrung people deliver on their priorities to heal country.”

As part of the Yilingga Marna, the two organisations will establish a “partnership builder role’ that will over see implantation of the agreement.