Traditional owner game management strategy released

Victorian Agriculture Minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, has today launched the Victorian Traditional Owner Game Management Strategy. 

Hunting, game and wildlife management is both a way of life and expression of identity for the Aboriginal people of Victoria. Traditional Owners within Victoria continue the cultural practices of their ancestors, particularly with respect to the animals they hunt as game. Many of these animals have spiritual and ceremonial significance. Traditional Owners throughout Victoria have always been actively engaged in the sustainable management of the resources of their respective Countries.

The Strategy sets out how Victorian Government departments and agencies will partner with Traditional Owners to deliver practical actions to build Traditional Owner participation in hunting, land management and conservation.

Speaking at the launch, on Dja Dja Wurrung country, Minister Thomas said “I see the new Game Management Strategy as the beginning of an enduring partnership with our Traditional Owners based on education, recognition, respect and building knowledge to heal and care for Country. I look forward to seeing this work continue and be implemented with the help of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations through the second Sustainable Hunting Action Plan.”

Rodney Carter from the Dja Dja Wurrung said “Hunting, as an experience, is very important to us as a way to stay connected to Country, to put Traditional Ecological Knowledge into practice, and to honour our reliance on Culture and Country for our sustenance.” 

Some of the language in the earlier drafts of this strategy caused concern to the ADA and other hunting groups. We thank the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations for taking the time to sit down with us and work through the issues and we’re looking forward to working with Traditional Owners across Victoria on education and deer management initiatives.