Traditional Owner Treaties

Traditional Owner Treaty negotiations will be led by a First Peoples’ Treaty Delegation comprising all Traditional Owners seeking to negotiate a Treaty for a particular region.

Traditional Owner Treaties will provide a process to address local needs and interests.

Updates about Traditional Owner Treaties will be published here as they become available, including as Traditional Owner Groups are registered onto the Treaty Negotiations Database.

Registration on the Treaty Negotiations Database is an important, first step in the process towards commencing formal Treaty negotiations between the State and a Traditional Owner delegation.

Entry onto the database and notification of intention to form a delegation does not provide a Traditional Owner group with any additional rights or formal recognition outside of the Treaty process set out in the Treaty Negotiation Framework.

The Treaty Authority ensures the process is fair for all negotiating parties, including Traditional Owner groups, according to the rules set out in the Treaty Negotiation Framework. All Traditional Owner groups in Victoria can participate in negotiating local treaties through an open and inclusive process overseen by the Treaty Authority.

The Treaty Authority have indicated that “Entry on the Negotiations Register does not automatically give a Traditional Owner group the right to negotiate a Treaty, nor is it a determination by the Treaty Authority regarding the group's status as to whether they are the right people for Country. It is it only an indication that a Traditional Owner group have self-assessed that they have met the Minimum Standards to be a Traditional Owner group for an area”.

The Treaty Authority will continue to facilitate the process and ensure each step and the requirements of the Treaty Negotiation Framework are met on the path to negotiation and agreement of treaties.

For more information, visit the Treaty Authority's interactive map.(opens in a new window)

Local Traditional Owner Treaty updates

Find out the status of Traditional Owner Treaties across Victoria.

The Dja Dja Wurrung Traditional Owner Group was the first Traditional Owner Group to be registered by the Treaty Authority on the Treaty Negotiations Database on 19 May 2025.
About DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation)
DJAARA is the Registered Aboriginal Party for part of Central Victoria.
On 28 March 2013, the State of Victoria and the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation (known as DJAARA) entered into a Recognition and Settlement Agreement (RSA) which formally recognises the Dja Dja Wurrung people as the traditional owners for part of Central Victoria.
You can visit DJAARA’s website here.(opens in a new window)
On behalf of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Peoples of the Wotjobaluk Nations, the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC was entered onto the Treaty Negotiations Database on 11 February 2026.
About Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC
Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BGLC) is the Registered Aboriginal Party for part of the Wimmera and Southern Mallee.
On 13 December 2005, the Federal Court made a consent determination of native title of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk People of the Wotjobaluk Nations (WJJWJ People) in certain areas of the Wimmera and Southern Mallee.
On 25 October 2022, the Victorian Government and BGLC, signed agreements under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (Vic) and related legislation.
You can visit BGLC’s website here.(opens in a new window)

Traditional Owner Treaties

On this page

Local Traditional Owner Treaty updates