Aboriginal Reconcilliation

We acknowledge the region's traditional name of Jaara Country.  The City acknowledges its traditional owners at the beginning of events and, where possible, invites a Traditional Owner to provide a Welcome to Country.

City of Greater Bendigo Acknowledgement 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 rolein the life of this region

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 the region. 

Important dates

The City is proud of its strong relationship with the local Indigenous community and continues to collaborate with the community on a number of projects including annual events such as:

• The celebration and anniversary of the National Apology - 13 February
• Reconciliation Week activities 27 May - 3 June
• NAIDOC Week - 3rd through to the 10th July.  Download the NAIDOC Week brochure here.

Bendigo's Indigenous community is comprised of both Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander community members and is very diverse. 

In addition to the region's traditional owners - the Jaara and the Dja Dja Wurrung people - Indigenous people have moved to Bendigo from all over Australia. 

In 2006, local representatives from 28 different Indigenous tribes participated in the Passage through Ceremony project

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