Native Title and Treaty Business
SAVE THE DATE
Gunaikurnai Full Group Authorisation Meetings
Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 October, 2026
Kernot Hall, Morwell
At this meeting Gunaikurnai people will be asked to decide:
1. Whether to initiate a new native title claim west of the current Gunaikurnai native title determination area – Yiruk (Wilsons Prom) and West Gippsland.
2. Whether to authorise GLaWAC to enter the Gunaikurnai Nation on the Treaty Negotiations Register.
Country, Culture and Community – our journey continues
In the 1990s, Gunai, Kurnai and Gunaikurnai Elders came together and started the journey towards formal recognition of our native title rights and interests.
It was a long, hard fight.
But in October 2010, Gunaikurnai native title rights and interests across much of Gunaikurnai Country were formally recognised by the Federal Court of Australia.
This paved the way for the first Recognition and Settlement Agreement in Victoria and a lot more.
Now it’s time for us all to keep building on the hard work of those elders and our ancestors.
Saturday 17 October
Unfinished Native Title Business
For several years GLaWAC has been working with Gunaikurnai people, anthropologists and expert lawyers to prepare for new native title claims.
This is unfinished business for our mob.
Our original native title claims included all of Gunaikurnai Country, but some areas had to be left out to get the claim completed.
The focus right now is on native title business to the west of the current Gunaikurnai native title determination area – Yiruk (Wilsons Prom) and West Gippsland.
This could include the Prom itself, the sea and islands off the Prom, Cape Liptrap, and some areas north of Cape Liptrap, in the Tarwin River and catchments of the Upper Latrobe River and headwaters of the Thomson River.
On Saturday 17 October 2026, there will be a Gunaikurnai Full Group authorisation meeting where you can decide to initiate a new native title claim west of our current native title determination area.
If a new native title claim is authorised, we also need to select which members of the claim group will represent the claim group in pursuing that native title claim. This will be done in the meeting as well.
Sunday 18 October
Entering the Treaty Negotiations Register
Victoria’s historic Statewide Treaty has formally commenced.
But there is another Treaty process where a Traditional Owner Group can negotiate a Traditional Owner Treaty, also known as a local or nation Treaty.
The first step in the journey for a Gunaikurnai Nation Treaty is to authorise GLaWAC to enter the Gunaikurnai Nation on the Treaty Negotiations Register.
Traditional Owner Treaties are nation-to-nation agreements.
For example, between the whole Gunaikurnai Nation and the State of Victoria.
A Traditional Owner Treaty means Traditional Owners of a nation can negotiate an agreement (a Treaty) about their goals and aspirations for community and Country.
Like native title and the RSA, the journey to a nation Treaty will take time.
The first step in the journey for a Gunaikurnai Nation Treaty is to authorise (approve) GLaWAC to enter the Gunaikurnai Nation on the Treaty Negotiations Register.
Entering the Treaty Negotiations Register means Gunaikurnai saying we want to explore having a Treaty agreement with the Victorian State Government.
To start this journey we need to decide on:
- Where is Gunaikurnai Country?
- How do we want to choose the Gunaikurnai people to be involved in future Treaty agreement negotiations?
Are You On Our List of Gunaikurnai Native Title Holders?
All Gunaikurnai people are native title holders by law.
But GLaWAC only has contact information for GLaWAC members.
If you are not a GLaWAC member but want to be included in these important decisions about native title and Treaty, please reach out to us using the form below.
We will only use your contact information to contact you about matters related to native title, Treaty and Gunaikurnai rights and interests.
There’s more information about our information collection policy at the bottom of this page.
Information Sessions in August and September
Warragul – Goods Shed
Sat. Aug. 8, 9 – 11am
In-person only
Kalimna (GLaWAC)
Sat. Aug. 15, 9 – 11am
In-person and online
Bairnsdale – The Hub
Tues. Aug. 18, 12 – 2pm
In-person only
RSVP for Info sessions here – so we know numbers for catering
Sale – Ramahyuck Board Room
Thurs. Aug. 20, 12 – 2pm
In-person and online
Morwell (GLaWAC Community Hub)
Tues. Sept. 1 , 5 – 7pm
In-person and online
Melbourne – Aborigines Advancement League
Wed. Sept. 2, 5 – 7pm
In-person and online
RSVP for Info sessions here – so we know numbers for catering
If you have any questions, or just want more information about any of these matters, please reach out to us at GLaWAC using the contact form here.
As a Gunaikurnai owned and controlled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth), Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) collects your personal information in order to carry out its functions.
These functions include as the Prescribed Body Corporate of the Gunaikurnai people in accordance with the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth), a Registered Aboriginal Party under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic) and the Gunaikurnai Traditional Owner Group Entity under the Traditional Owner Settlement Act 2010 (Vic).
GLaWAC is required by law to collect your personal information to carry out its functions and to contact you about matters that may affect Gunaikurnai rights and interests.
GLaWAC will not share your personal information with any other person or organisation unless it is required to do so by law or otherwise in accordance with its Privacy Policy.
If you do not provide us this information, GLaWAC may not be able to meet its legal obligations, and you may not receive important information about Gunaikurnai rights and interests.
If you have any questions about how your personal information will be handled or would like to gain access to your personal information, you can contact GLaWAC on (03) 5152 5100 or admin@glawac.com.au.
