General News
9 December, 2025
‘Time to honour the elders’: BGLC Reflects on 20-Year Milestone
As the Wotjobaluk Nations look toward celebrating the 20th anniversary of Native Title recognition with a cultural festival, Barengi Gadjin Land Council Chairperson Chris Harrison reflects on his teenage years when his grandmother shared her vision for this recognition with him.
"She took me with her when she attended meetings, gatherings, and shared stories with the Wotjobaluk people and what they envisaged for their future," he said.
"This is a nostalgic time. Our Leaders led the way, and now it is our turn to build on what they created and look toward what we can build for our young people."
Mr Harrison said the dedication of Aunties and Uncles in collecting photos and stories of the past helped create a platform for a future.
With those memories clear in his mind, he now looks towards preparing the celebrations for Saturday, December 13, at Horseshoe Bend Campgrounds.
"This is the time for community, partners, and allies to come together and celebrate 20 years since Native Title was formally recognised for the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia, and Jupagulk Peoples," he said.
However, the milestone behind this celebration runs deeper still, as it was also a milestone for Victoria as the first recognition of Native Title in the state.
"It's time to honour the Elders," he said.
"Elders past and present whose cultural authority, leadership, and persistence ensured that this truth was formally acknowledged."
Mr Harrison said he can remember meetings held outside, under trees, anywhere his grandmother and others could meet to talk and share their vision of the future of their people.
"And look how far we've come," he said.
"Twenty years ago, we had a project officer, and since then, we have built an organisation; we have offices, meeting rooms, programs, and this is the legacy of our elders."
This legacy is part of the historical collection that is being meticulously created.
Saturday's private program for the Wotjobaluk Nations Members and Kin will begin at 9.30am and run to 5.00 pm, and focus on ceremony, culture, and community time on Country.
The Wotjobaluk Nations Festival will feature the Dalki Murrup Ceremonial Performance Group, river walks and cultural workshops, language, dance, and storytelling workshops, weaving, boomerang painting, bush toy making, clapstick burning, and other cultural activities, food, music, and creative performances, in a family-friendly, alcohol-free environment.
The evening celebrations, beginning at 5pm, are open to allies and friends, and an open invitation has been extended to the wider community to stand in solidarity and join the 20th anniversary celebrations.
During the evening part of the program, the walls, trees, and open spaces of Dimboola will come alive through projection, light, and sound movement, bringing together Wotjobaluk Nations artists, storytellers, Elders and youth to share the living Dreaming of this Country, its stories, Language, artforms, and cultural memory, through a contemporary, immersive medium.
As the sun sets, the festival will culminate in a major cultural event: Our Place Our Story, a large-scale immersive storytelling projection experience at 9pm.
This festival recognises the years of work that led to the change by so many of the Elders who have passed, but whose legacy will be celebrated.
"Our Ancestors met weekly and monthly, they met in Melbourne and Ballarat, joining together all levels of expertise from legal, business management, and home duties. Everyone's input was considered and valued," he said.
"The Elders put their heart and soul into this, getting this recognition.
"They created this out of what they had."
Mr Harrison said that while this festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary, it really was a 25-year journey when the five years of planning and preparation are taken into account.
He also believes that it is time for the history of the Wotjobaluk People to be taught in schools.
"This is local history, it is close to home, and the way to bridge the gap is through information and information," he said.
While the Wotjobaluk Nations People were the first to receive Native Title recognition, the Yorta Yorta were the first to apply for native Title, but were unsuccessful.
Barengi Gadjin Land Council represents Traditional Owners from the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Peoples, who were recognised in a 2005 Native Title Consent Determination, the first in south-eastern Australia, and is a Registered Aboriginal Party, as appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council, under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.
