Wotjobaluk Nations’ Festival, which celebrated 20 years since Native Title was recognised, is a finalist in the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies’, AIATSIS, summit awards.

On December 13, 2005 the Federal Court made its first determination that native title exists in southeastern Australia – it recognised the native title of the Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk People of the Wotjobaluk Nations in areas of the Wimmera and southern Mallee. 

The Wotjobaluk Nations’ Festival, at Dimboola’s Horseshoe Bend in December last year, featured music, dance, storytelling, food, art and ceremony, which culminated in immersive storytelling projection experience ‘Our Place Our Story’.

Produced by Barengi Gadjin Land Council, BGLC, ‘Our Place Our Story’ represents a collaboration between Pink Lake Creative, The Dreaming Project, The Little Projector Company, BGLCs’ Dalki Murrup Ceremonial Performance Group and the Wotjobaluk Nations’ Community.

The festival is a finalist in the Excellence in Cultural Revitalisation, Preservation and Resurgence category.

BGLC general operations manager Colin Gorton said he still looked at the event’s pictures today and had chills.

“People came from far and wide to be at that celebration, and that shows it meant something,” he said.

“It was an amazing opportunity for BGLC at the time, not just a celebration of 20 years of Native Title – and the achievement of that itself was absolutely amazing. It was 20 years ago, in the exact same spot where the title was signed,  but then the 20 years coming forward. 

“The whole day, the whole idea of celebrating the 20 years, was an honourable moment, knowing that the uncles and aunties did that back 20 years ago, and the legacy of the reassignment and celebration of it again 20 years later – I think that’s fantastic.

“The festival opened the eyes of the Wotjobaluk Nations community, as well as the wider community.”

BGLC arts liaison and events officer Jillian Pearce said it was incredible to see members of the public flood into the festival site. 

“The moment we opened it up to the general public, and just seeing them come flooding into that site who were allies, true allies, celebrating with mob, was a great feeling,” she said.

“I wish it was like that all the time – that warmth, generosity, sharing and openness to learning was amazing.” 

Mr Gorton said he was in awe of the feeling of everybody being neutral.

“It didn’t matter the colour of your skin, it was more acknowledging, for one, where you were actually standing, and two, the amazing artwork,” he said.

“I’m proud, I think it’s fantastic, and I think it’s something that should be recognised.” 

BGLC chief executive Chris Santagiuliana said the award’s criteria outlined points such as the preservation and sharing of cultural knowledge and revitalisation. 

He said winners would be announced at the AIATSIS summit at Gold Coast on June 5. 

“It’s a five-day conference where traditional owners and traditional owner corporations from across Australia, gather to talk about contemporary issues, legal issues, cultural issues, cultural heritage issues, cultural revival, language, and legislation,” he said.

“We send a delegation every year – this year we’ve got a delegation of five managers who will spend their week in conference, taking down lots of notes, and then bringing it all back and have workshops internally at BGLC.” 

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