Victorian Government signs historic Native Title deal

The Victorian Government has signed a historic Native Title deal with Aboriginal communities in central and western Victoria, reported in an article in abc.net.au.

The deal was confirmed on 27 March 2013, and took more than a decade to negotiate.

There was a mixture of joy and relief on the faces of many people as local Indigenous leaders and the Victorian Government put pen to paper in Bendigo today.

It grants Native Title over Crown land in the Bendigo, Daylesford, Maryborough and Charlton districts.

It also means the Dja Dja Wurrung people are legally recognised as the region's traditional owners, and provides close to $10 million of funding for training and economic development.

The local Indigenous leader, Graham Atkinson, spoke of his joy and relief at the agreement.

"This is a great moment for our people. It will be remembered for generations to come," he said.

"It is about creating a foundation for the Dja Dja Wurrung people to build on, to practise culture, strengthen our community," Mr Atkinson said.

It is the first to be finalised under new Victorian laws introduced in 2010, and is being put forward as an example to other Aboriginal claimant groups.
 

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