MINING COMPANY AND TRADITIONAL OWNERS PARTNER IN VICTORIA

Rodney Carter on Country (Credit: 3KND)

BY ASAD KHAN and marion cheedy

Central Victoria is set to benefit from a historic agreement between the Dja Dja Wurrrung people and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited after seven years of negotiation.

The Agreement signing was following revelation at State’s Yoorrrook Justice Commission hearings which heard Victorian Aboriginal people received no benefit from the $247.4 billion worth of Gold mined from Aboriginal Traditional Lands since 1851.

Rodney Carter, CEO Dja Dja Wurrung Group said good things take time and that is why it took seven years of negotiation. 

He said this agreement would give our people the financial independence we need

“10 years ago, we ended into a contract with the state of Victoria and its agreement that's called the recognition settlement agreement. And so we've had a lot of experience there in negotiating and doing healing country and healing people activities here.,”

“They've come to actually understand who and what we are as the people,” he said.

Mr Carter said the mining was happening with no benefit coming towards the people and without the Traditional Land Owners consent but now they have come to accept and recognize its importance.

Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Marion Cheedy speak to Dja Dja Wurrung Group CEO Rodney Carter: