BENDIGO, Australia – In a historic move, the Dja Dja Wurrung people in Central Victoria have officially begun negotiating a local treaty, marking a significant step in their long pursuit of recognition and justice. This pivotal moment sees them become the first Traditional Owner group in Victoria to formally engage in treaty talks under the state’s new process.
The Dja Dja Wurrung are the first Traditional Owner group to begin local treaty negotiations in Victoria, aiming for cultural pride and tangible change for future generations.
- Dja Dja Wurrung are the first Traditional Owners in Victoria to start local treaty negotiations.
- The treaty aims for tangible benefits like housing, education, and cultural revitalisation.
- Victoria is a national leader in the treaty process, having committed to negotiations in 2016.
- Australia, unlike other settler colonies, has historically avoided treaty-making with Indigenous peoples.
What is the significance of the Dja Dja Wurrung beginning local treaty negotiations? The Dja Dja Wurrung’s aspirations are ambitious, focusing on elevating their local voice to match that of state and federal decision-makers. This includes securing opportunities for home ownership, university education, and fostering cultural pride among their young people.
The negotiations commenced at a traditional meeting place in Bendigo, illuminated by fire and ceremony, with cultural dancers celebrating this new chapter. Djaran Murray-Jackson, a Dja Dja Wurrung man and board member of DJARRA, the Traditional Owner corporation, expressed his excitement. “Our mob really wanted to be one of the first to negotiate a local treaty,” he said. “We authorised it at our AGM — and now we’re here. It’s very exciting.” For Murray-Jackson, the treaty holds deep personal meaning, stating, “I’ve got a four-month-old daughter. If every Dja Dja Wurrung person feels something from the treaty process, I’ll be satisfied we’ve done the right thing.”
Victoria Leads the Way on Treaty
While treaty discussions have stalled nationally, Victoria has advanced significantly. In 2016, it became the first jurisdiction to commit to official treaty negotiations. The First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria has since guided a groundbreaking process to reshape the relationship between First Peoples and the state.
Reuben Berg, co-chair of the Assembly, described the statewide treaty as a means to ensure that decisions impacting First Peoples are made by First Peoples. “The Assembly is a democratically elected group of Traditional Owners,” Berg stated. “Through this first statewide treaty, we want to see that body play an enhanced leadership role — appointing people to key positions, holding government accountable, and ensuring ongoing truth-telling.”
Victoria’s Treaty Authority, an independent body overseeing negotiations, is currently working with approximately 40 Traditional Owner groups across the state. Board member Thelma Austin noted the growing interest in local treaties, saying, “The interest is definitely out there. Our role is to educate and help communities navigate the process.” Premier Jacinta Allan has voiced her support for the treaty process, endorsing both the statewide agreement and local accords. “Our community have been clear — they want action, and they want meaningful treaty negotiations,” she told attendees at the Dja Dja Wurrung gathering.
Global Context for Local Aspirations
The treaty movement in Victoria is part of a broader global push for Indigenous self-determination. Leaders and legal scholars highlight that Australia remains an outlier among British settler colonies for not having formal treaties.
In contrast, New Zealand’s Treaty of Waitangi, despite its challenges, has provided a framework for Māori political engagement, land settlements, and cultural revitalization. Australia, however, historically avoided acknowledging Aboriginal sovereignty or negotiating coexistence. As Professor Megan Davis explained, “The British weren’t competing with anyone in Australia, so there was no motivation for treaties. And we’re paying the price for that today.” Victoria’s treaty process aims to address this legacy, a complex undertaking occurring over 230 years after colonisation.
Economic Justice and Cultural Revival
Beyond symbolic recognition, treaties are increasingly viewed as vital tools for economic empowerment and cultural strengthening. Darren Godwell, Chair of Indigenous Business Australia, believes treaties can “bridge historic disadvantage into inclusion.” He elaborated, “Each of our sovereign nations is going to need a treasurer and a treasury. Treaty allows Traditional Owners to pursue development on their own terms — whether it’s fisheries, agriculture, sustainability or cultural enterprise.” For the Dja Dja Wurrung, this translates to having a say in local economic planning, land use, and service delivery, with a focus on housing, education, and language revival.
A Patchwork National Approach
While Victoria leads, other states present a varied landscape. Queensland and the Northern Territory have paused or halted treaty efforts following government changes. Tasmania has prioritized truth-telling without a formal treaty process, while South Australia is developing a First Nations Voice to Parliament alongside emerging treaty talks. In New South Wales, the Treaty Commission has recently begun consultations. Despite this fragmented approach, leaders like Berg remain optimistic. “We don’t need to wait for a national treaty to move forward locally,” he asserted. “Victoria is proof that meaningful change can start in the states.”
Senator Lidia Thorpe, a prominent advocate for Treaty, stressed the importance of grassroots involvement. “We need clans and nations represented at the local government level,” she said. “Real change starts in community, not Canberra.”
A Promise for the Future
As ceremonies unfold on Dja Dja Wurrung country, elders, dancers, and families gather to witness history. The treaty journey is ongoing, marked by fragility, hope, and ongoing discussion. The message remains clear: First Nations people are actively reclaiming their future. In Victoria, the path to treaty has begun.
