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Aboriginal Reconciliation

To start the official proceedings I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and pay respects to Elders past and present.

The City of Greater Bendigo is part of Jaara Country, the traditional land of people of the Dja Dja Wurrung language.
The Dja Dja Wurrung language group is one of the five distinct but closely related communities comprising the Kulin Nation in south central Victoria.

Bendigo’s Indigenous community comprises both Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders; with many people having moved to Bendigo from all over Australia. In the 2011 census, approx 1.4% of the total CoGB population identified as Indigenous. The community has grown since the last census in 2006 when 1.1% of Bendigo’s population identified as Indigenous.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living in Bendigo actively celebrate their cultures and mark significant dates such as National Reconciliation Week, the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations ( 13 February 2008) and NAIDOC Week ( first week of July).

The City of Greater Bendigo values its relationships with a broad range of individuals and organisations from the Indigenous Community.
For example;

Bendigo NAIDOC Committee
Bendigo Local Indigenous Network Council
Local Aboriginal Justice Action Committee (LAJAC)
Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committees (RAJAC)
Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC)
Bendigo Aboriginal Education Cooperative Group Inc (BAECG)
Bendigo Local Indigenous Network Council
Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation

Acknowledgement of Country

The Traditional Owners and Elders, past and present, are acknowledged at all Council official meetings.

The City’s Acknowledgement of Country includes the following;

Acknowledgment of Country

To start the official proceedings

I would like to acknowledge that we are meeting on

Jaara Country

of which the members and Elders of the Jaara people of the Dja Dja Wurrung community

and their forebears are the Traditional Owners and have been custodians for many centuries and have performed age old ceremonies of celebration, initiation and renewal.

We acknowledge their living culture and their unique role

in the life of this region.

Acknowledgement of Country - Heathcote

The Taungurung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (http://taungurung.info/) is the registered Aboriginal Party covering Heathcote Township and some surrounding areas. The following wording is recommend for events in Heathcote:

To start the official proceedings I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and pay respects to Elders past and present.

The Aboriginal Flag

The Aboriginal Flag, flying from the Bendigo Town Hall is a permanent reminder of the City's commitment to its Indigenous community and is a symbol of the significant contribution Indigenous people continue to make to this region.

For further information please contact the Community and Cultural Development Unit on 5434 6464 or email infoccd@bendigo.vic.gov.au