THE City of Greater Bendigo and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, also known as Djaara, have signed what\u2019s being called a \u201cmilestone agreement\u201d.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s traditional owners and the municipality.<\/p>\n
\u201cYilingga Marna builds on existing mutual trust and respect between Djaara and the City, and takes agreement-making between our organisations to a new level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis milestone agreement will create a better outcome for both parties.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe congratulate the City of Greater Bendigo on its commitment and leadership in developing this initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n
The document was signed beside the Frog Ponds in White Hills on Monday by representatives of Djaara and the City.<\/p>\n
Municipal CEO Craig Niemann said the document, and what it stands for, could act as a model for other councils.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope this agreement could be a model for local government across Australia to support reconciliation with, and self-determination of, traditional owners.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe agreement also delivers on a number of commitments in the City\u2019s Barpangu Reconciliation Plan to help Dja Dja Wurrung people deliver on their priorities to heal country.\u201d<\/p>\n
As part of the Yilingga Marna, the two organisations will establish a \u201cpartnership builder role\u2019 that will over see implantation of the agreement.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE City of Greater Bendigo and Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, also known as Djaara, have signed what\u2019s being called a \u201cmilestone agreement\u201d. 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\u2019s traditional […]<\/p>\n