The Australian Alps covers the traditional Country of the Bidawal, Monero-Ngarigo, Gunaikurnai, Jaithmathang, Taungurung, Mitambuta, Ngarigu-Currawong, Dhudhuroa, Waywurru, Wurundjeri and other peoples.
The following statements detail some of the vision for Country held by four First Nations groups in Victoria.
Dhudhuroa statement on Victorian Alps (2021)
‘Dalka Warra Mittung’ – meaning in Dhudhuroa language “the people of the mountains and waters”.
While it is good to acknowledge, it is expected that all Australians that are living and working on and around the Dhudhuroa First Nations Alpine region support the handing back of Dhudhuroa First Nations Alps peoples land, water and natural and cultural resources, including Dhudhuroa First Nations Alps peoples responsibilities to heal and care for Dhudhuroa First Nations Alps people Country.
Since colonisation, the Dhudhuroa First Nations people of the NE Alps region have been dispossessed and denied our natural and cultural inherit rights to occupy and manage our land, water and natural and cultural resources; including being denied our responsibilities as land owners to manage, invest and benefit socially, culturally and economically under the current occupations of systemic racist policies and legislation that exists throughout the mountains, rivers and water region management plans and departments of NE Victoria.
The Dhudhuroa Dalka Warra Mittung expect to be granted, under a formal agreement with the relevant states and commonwealth governments, our land and water rights and titles back of Australian National Alpine Parks, reserves and land trusts connected to Dhudhuroa throughout the NE Victorian region; beginning under a joint management plan with the expectation of owning the titles and moving toward these areas ultimately becoming Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) and World Heritage Listed.
This is the bigger picture of a greater future for all Australians and this is the most amicable and resourceful way that must be supported and pursued as a matter of urgency to ensure firstly sustainability and protection of the rights and responsibilities as Dhudhuroa First Nations Alps people, protection and preservation of Dhudhuroa land, waters and natural and cultural resources of the Alpine region, and Dhudhuroa First Nations Alps future generations healing and well-being.
A good example of the current situation for the Dhudhuroa First Nations Alps people is that there is no Treaty between Dhudhuroa First Nations people and the Commonwealth Government. Australia is the only commonwealth nation in the world without a Treaty between its First Nations people; and this is reflected in the statistics of Dhudhuroa First Nations Alps people not living, working and healing Country under their inherit rights and responsibilities.
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GunaiKurnai
The Gunaikurnai people’s strong and continuing connection with Country was legally recognised in October 2010. As part of the package of agreements in the Traditional Owner Recognition and Settlement Agreement, Gunaikurnai were granted Aboriginal Title over 10 national parks and reserves. These include the Mitchell River National Park, Buchan Caves Reserve, and New Guinea Cave, within the Snowy River national park as well as a number of reserves in coastal areas.
Their aspirations for the Alpine areas are outlined in the Whole of Country plan.
Vision for the Alpine National Park
Values
The southern slopes of Victoria’s alpine ranges are a vast cultural landscape. They are where our creation story began and where our ancestors travelled for trade, for gatherings and to track seasonal food sources. The forests are rich in cultural artefacts and sacred sites, many of which were uncovered following the 2003 alpine bushfires. The surveys that were done after these fires when the land was cleared have helped us to tell the story of our ancestors’ occupation of the high country, and demonstrate how far and wide our people travelled.
Our old people would come to the high country during the summer, following spur lines and heading up into the mountains as the food sources lower down finished. They would move through the landscape – harvesting food resources without exhausting them, and caring for the Country along the way, using firestick management at the right time so that it didn’t damage the food source. They followed the Bogong Moth paths as well as many other food sources, sustaining themselves by eating little by little as they went on their journey. They looked for the right sorts of stones as they travelled, to make tools.
The designated national parks in the high country are the sites of some of Victoria’s most spectacular reserves, with largely intact natural landscapes and diverse plants and animals. Connections between these parks are relatively strong, making it logical to take a whole-of-landscape approach to management. In recognition of this, Parks Victoria has developed a draft Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan, covering the full suite of parks across the alpine ranges. It is within this landscape context that we see a future role for Gunaikurnai.
Opportunities
The generally good condition of this suite of alpine parks forms the basis of several opportunities for sustainable economic development. As the headwaters of many of Victoria’s water catchments, their value in providing good quality water supplies is significant. Visitation of many of these parks is high, providing a strong basis for tourism-related industries. Carbon production through forest restoration and fire management may also prove to be applicable in these areas.
Protecting the extensive cultural and natural values across this large area is a big job and one that is fundamental to our role as custodians of the land. We have cultural obligations to make sure it is cared for. As we build our capability and experience in joint management, and work over time towards increasing our Aboriginal Title landholdings, these alpine parks have potential to be brought under joint management regimes. This would not only support our ongoing connection with this Country, but also enable us to ensure they are looked after and provide employment opportunities for Gunaikurnai people.
Gunaikurnai people are working towards joint management of the alpine national park.
Jaithmathang
Jaithmathang Original Country elders are returning to the mountains to reconnect with their Yerto (meaning land/country high up). This story was produced by North East Catchment Management Authority and reproduced with their permission.
Goengalla Jumma: “In 1830, there was a population of more than 600 Jaithmathang Original People living in our isolated pristine Yerto Alpines, in our Mountain Ranges and on our fertile High Plains Country”.
“By the early 1850s our population was decimated and there were only a handful of our people left; there was the arrival and occupation by pastoralists and miners, and then the numerous massacres and killings. The last few Jaithmathang who were left were removed away from our Country to other surrounding settlements. It was actually highlighted in historical information that we were all deceased”.
Goengalla Jumma says that the Jaithmathang acknowledge and are highly respectful of Kurnai Senior Elder Russell Mullett and his role as Spiritual Caretaker and Customary and Cultural Educator of Jaithmathang Country during their absence. A series of visits in April and May this year to the Alpine region of north east Victoria is key to helping Goengalla Jumma and Senior Elder Goengalla Goro Konermar Wotter, from the Jaithmathang Traditional Ancestral Bloodline Original Owners First Nation Aboriginal Corporation (TABOO) rekindle their Spiritual Belonging to their Jaithmathang Ancient Sacred Yerto Mountains and High Plains Country.
They made the journey from Greater Sydney to Mount Hotham through a landscape-scale project supported by the North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
The two Senior Elders, assisted by the Mount Hotham Alpine Resort Management Board, journeyed to their Yerto and the top of Mount Loch; the site of one of the largest Mountain Pygmy-Possum populations in the Southern Alps.
It is one of many Yerto Sacred Places where GunaiKurnai and Jaithmathang Ancestors once gathered for their annual migration to share in feasting of the Bogong moth and for sacred ceremonies.
As the wind and silence of the mountains gently caresses the group, Goengalla Jumma continues: “Our customary rights and cultural responsibilities included land management of our shared Yerto and the caring of our Sacred Totemic fauna and flora which are as sacramental to us as is our water as we are all one”.
“This spiralling decline of our Mountain Pygmy-possum has been of great concern to us all and should be for every Australian. This beautiful little creature lives in the Yerto rocks of the high mountains – the same place where our Totemic Bogong moth used to come in vast numbers to rest from the heat of the plains every summer.”
The Jaithmathang Elders and GunaiKurnai Elders sadly understand the dwindling numbers of Bogong moth is connected to the decline of the Mountain Pygmy-possum.
“The female possum needs the Bogong moth as her critical food source to provide the nutritious milk to raise her babies. In recent years, a condition known as Pouch Young Litter Loss has seen deaths of up to 95 per cent of possum young die in a single season. Our other Totemic Brothers, Crow and Currawong, also feasted on the Bogong moth and would show us where the moths were living.
“As Jaithmathang we are the traditional gatekeepers of the Yerto Alpine region including Mt Bogong, Mt Jaithmathang, also the Kiewa and Mitta Mitta Valleys, the Yerto Cobberas Mountain Range, the headwaters of the Murray River and Country on the southern side of the Murray River; also Mt Hotham with GunaiKurnai as shared Yerto. Together we have managed this pristine environment and region since time immemorial before colonisation.
“Permission had to be sought from other Original Nations wanting to participate in the annual Bogong ceremonies and feasting. Those Nations to the west of Jaithmathang would gather at Mungabareena (Albury) for their annual ceremonies that included initiations, marriages, arrangements, trading of weapons and goods, settling of disputes and the renewal of alliances.
“The Elders and their families of the other nations who were granted permission, after their initial ceremonies, to attend the Jaithmathang Yerto Sacred Bogong Ceremonies would gather at the base of Mt Bogong (Mt Beauty) and other significant designated Sacred Gathering Places.
“The invited Elders and their warriors were met at these designated gathering places and then escorted by Jaithmathang Yin (Initiated Warriors) along traditional ceremonial pathways into Jaithmathang Yerto Bogong High Country to conduct sacred ceremonies and to feed on the protein-rich Bogong moth.
“Given the richness of the Bogong moths as a food source, preserved Bogong moth cakes were a very valuable item, and Jaithmathang Elders made sure no-one took more than what they needed.”
Goengalla Jumma said Hotham is in the Dargo/Dairgo GunaiKurnai Yerto Country and borders with Jaithmathang. To join Jaithmathang, the GunaiKurnai would send a smoke signal from Mount Hotham to indicate they were present.
“We Jaithmathang would send a smoke signal to allow access to the GunaiKurnai and greet them on Mount Bundara Munjee now called Mt Jim. GunaiKurnai were given songs and spiritual guidance by Jaithmathang Elders including acceptance of intermarriage.
“We’re starting to make more regular trips to our Mung (Mother) Country – our Mung is calling us, recognising us and being more accepting of us and she is waiting patiently for her children to return,” Goengalla Jumma said.
“We are continuing to positively engage with Victorian Government agencies who have dedicated staff and others who reside, work, and have common strategies and passions for working with us towards bringing the balance back to our Sacred Jaithmathang ancient living landscape.
“In the future we wish to see the funding provided by projects like the Mountain Pygmy-possum Recovery Project create opportunities for our youth and adults alike; including supporting their return and individual spiritual reconnection – to be recognised and accepted by Mung Country and of our Old People.”
The Mountain Pygmy Possum Recovery Project is supported by the North East CMA and Mount Hotham Resort Management, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
CREDIT: This was published originally by North East Catchment Management Authority. Website: https://www.necma.vic.gov.au
Taungurung Land and Waters Council
On 26 October 2018 the Victorian Government, the Taungurung Land and Waters Council Aboriginal Corporation (TLaWCAC), and the Taungurung Traditional Owner group signed a suite of agreements under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (Vic), and related legislation.
The Recognition and Settlement Agreement (RSA) commenced on 11 August 2020.
Vision for the High Country
We expect to be active Joint Managers of national parks and reserves. We expect the hand back of parks and reserves. National parks contain extensive cultural heritage and abundant natural and cultural resources. We will take an active role in protecting and managing parks and reserves for our people and for all those who wish to see Country well managed and protected
The alpine is culturally highly significant as the Taungurung are mountain and river people.
The Alpine national park (the part in the Taungurung Agreement Area) is now under Aboriginal Title as part of the Recognition and Settlement Agreement with the State of Victoria. TLaWC will therefore enter into Joint Management arrangements for the park over the next period, once a TOLMB (Traditional Owner Land Management Board) is set up.
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