Dja Dja Wurrung

Introduction

Dja Dja Wurrung Country is entirely within and comprises 58 per cent of the north central region. It extends from the upper catchments of the Bulutjal Yaluk (Loddon River) and Golipan (Coliban River) to Lalgambook (Mount Franklin) and the towns of Creswick and Daylesford in the southeast, to the Yaluk (Campaspe River) Kyneton, Redesdale and Rochester in the east, Yung Balug Djandak (Boort Lakes) in the north, Lake Buloke, Donald in the northwest, to the Avon Richardson River, Navarre Hill and Mount Avoca marking the south west boundary.

In 2013, the Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Clans Corporation (DDWCAC) signed a Recognition and Settlement Agreement (RSA) with the Victorian government, under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010. The Dja Dja Wurrung RSA involved transfer of six parks in the region, to Aboriginal Title. In collaboration with partner organisations the Dhelkunya Dja Land Management Board developed a Joint Management Plan (JMP) for the parks which include:

  • Greater Bendigo National Park
  • Hepburn Regional Park
  • Kara Kara National Park
  • Kooyoora State Park
  • Paddys Ranges State Park
  • Wehla Nature Conservation Reserve

DDWCAC also has Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) status under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. The boundaries of the RAP and RSA areas are consistent. For more details see the Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians Policy Context page.

To inform RCS renewal, DDWCAC representing Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owners, were engaged. As for other Traditional Owners of the region, we have sought to reflect Dja Dja Wurrung values and aspirations in this RCS, at a high level. For more specific information, RCS partners should engage directly with DDWCAC and reference the Dhelkunya Dja, Dja Dja Wurrung Country Plan.

All Traditional Owners engaged for RCS renewal were asked if they would like to identify values, including places of value in the RCS. We also discussed a range of concerns and aspirations for the future. Those identified by Jaara (Dja Dja Wurrung people) who were engaged for RCS renewal are outlined on this page. Together these have informed the development of priority directions and outcomes for all Traditional Owners as outlined on the Traditional Owners page

Values, concerns and aspirations

The following values, concerns and aspirations were developed through discussions and provided by Dja Dja Wurrung in writing (written contributions are shown in italics). In relation to biodiversity, we have referenced outcomes of DELWPs regional Biodiversity Response Planning engagement with Dja Dja Wurrung. In relation to water, we engaged the Dja Dja Wurrung water knowledge group Kapa Gatjin. Dja Dja Wurrung made it clear that all areas of Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung Country) are of great importance and that the naming and identification of specific locations and species in this RCS, is intended to provide a focus for this RCS and should not compromise the importance of those not listed. They also stressed that cultural values identified here do not fully define the interests and beliefs of Jaara, which are multifaceted and cannot be defined through a single standpoint or response.

We feel a moral responsibility to care for our Country as it binds us to the past, present and future. Our ancestors looked after this Country and we are duty bound to look after it for the next generation. We believe we are an integral part of the ecosystem and place strong value the balance of natural resources and their management.
When the Country is sick, we are sick. We must do better.