First Peoples - State Relations
First Peoples – State Relations is a newly established group within the Department of Premier and Cabinet, responsible for nation-leading work in the areas of cultural rights, self-determination, treaty and truth – an extensive program of priority work with First Peoples.
We recognise Victoria’s First Peoples as the self-determining drivers of Aboriginal affairs in Victoria. We are committed to building ongoing, just and respectful relationships between self-determining First Peoples and the State as a priority focus.
First Peoples – State Relations is also committed to promoting Aboriginal leadership and this is reflected in the group’s executive team. Our new and innovative ways of working are made possible by the strategic leadership of our Aboriginal leaders.
First Peoples – State Relations incorporates the former Aboriginal Victoria and its statutory functions, and was established following consultation with Victoria’s Aboriginal community and peak bodies.
First Peoples – State Relations key workstreams include:
Cultural Rights
Working with First Peoples on cultural heritage management and protection in ways which recognise the leading role of strong and engaged Traditional Owners as the holders of cultural rights.
Self-Determination
Driving whole of government strategic policy and reform that recognises that as we move along the continuum of self-determination, Aboriginal affairs is driven not by government, but by:
- self-determining Aboriginal communities
- Traditional Owner Groups
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations
Treaty
Leading treaty negotiations with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria on behalf of the State and driving whole of government engagement with the treaty process.
Truth
State engagement in and response to the historic Yoo-rrook Justice Commission and its inquiry into historic and ongoing injustices committed against Aboriginal Victorians since colonisation, across all areas of social, political and economic life.
Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
We provide secretariat support for the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council through the Office of the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. The Office supports Council to fulfil its independent statutory functions to achieve its functions under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
Our Minister
Minister for Treaty and First Peoples
First Peoples – State Relations Logo and Artwork
The visual branding for First Peoples – State Relations was developed by Aboriginal-owned creative agency Little Rocket in collaboration with Kinya Lerrk, an art and design company owned by Aboriginal visual artists Emma Bamblett and Megan Van Den Berg.
This artwork represents the work and purpose of First Peoples – State Relations, Department of Premier and Cabinet. It depicts the ongoing relationships that exist between First Peoples – State Relations and Victoria’s First Peoples and the importance of strengthening these relationships.
Throughout the artwork, the black line work represents self-determination. This is reflected as the border and connection between all the patterns to demonstrate that self-determination occurs outside government, but enabling and respecting it is key to ongoing, just and respectful relationships between the State and Victoria’s First Peoples.
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