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First Nations community information

First Nations community information

Find out about the Council resolution on the referendum, plus information, resources, policies and community contacts for and about First Nations communities in Port Phillip.

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Council respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of this land, the people of the Kulin Nations. We pay our respect to their Elders, past and present. We acknowledge and uphold their continuing relationship to this land.

Traditional owners

The formally recognised Traditional Owners of the lands of the City of Port Phillip are the Wurundjeri and Bunurong Peoples’. They are represented by:

Click to view an online map that shows the areas that the RAPs cover. Note this link shows a Victoria-wide view. Zooming in shows boundaries in Port Phillip.

We also recognise and work with the Boonwurrung Land and Sea Council on reconciliation initiatives.

The Voice Referendum 2023

At the Council Meeting 4 October, a motion was passed by Council to support the Yes vote in the referendum on establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Australian Constitution. The motion supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart, including a Yes position in the referendum. It also supports clear and accurate information for the community to make an informed decision on their vote in the referendum. Finally, Council reaffirmed its commitment to develop its third Reconciliation Action Plan.

We-akon Dilinja – a mourning reflection event

The annual We-Akon Dilinja mourning reflection is a partnership event between the Boon Wurrung Land and Sea Council and the City of Port Phillip.

Supported by the National Australia Day Council, this event brings people together to commemorate and celebrate the rich diverse culture of the First Peoples of this land as the sun rises on the 26 January.

Visit We-Akon Dilinja to view previous events.

Our statement of commitment

‘The Council of the City of Port Phillip acknowledges that Indigenous Australians were the first people of this land and have survived European settlement for more than two centuries.
The City of Port Phillip values its diverse and multicultural community and encourages tolerance and respect for all.
The arrival of Europeans brought massive change to the land and to its indigenous peoples.
For its part, Port Phillip City Council acknowledges and grieves for the loss by the indigenous people of their land, their children, their health and their lives.
We acknowledge the right of indigenous Australians to live according to their own values and customs, subject to law and we commit ourselves to respecting Aboriginal sacred sites and significant places.
The Council recognises the valuable contribution to the Port Phillip region made by indigenous people and looks forward to a future of mutual respect and harmony.
The Council supports the indigenous and non-indigenous people of Australia working together for the development of a formal instrument of reconciliation.’
This statement was endorsed by the City of Port Phillip on 27 August 1997, and re-endorsed by Council in 2012 and 2017.

A commitment to reconciliation

We have a longstanding commitment to reconciliation with plans and strategies that help us advance to this goal. These approaches explore employment opportunities, build awareness and understanding around self-determination, and enhance cultural and economic development for local First Nations peoples:

First people's history

We worked with the Boonwurrung Foundation to develop Yalukit Willam: The River People of Port Phillip, a suburb-by-suburb account of historical events through the point of view of descendants and contemporaries of the Yaluk-ut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung.

Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation

Port Phillip Citizens for Reconciliation Inc. is a local community group that supports awareness of reconciliation and promotes the history of First Peoples in Port Phillip. The group formed in 1997 and maintains a strong presence in the community including regular meetings, a monthly newsletter and hosting special events and forum. New members are welcome.