Because of generations of advocacy by our old people, and the determination of our mob, we have our first Treaty.

Treaty is about how we do our business, our way. Treaty has created Gellung Warl, (‘tip of the spear’ in Gunaikurnai) to represent the needs, hopes and aspirations of Community in the Treaty era.

Over the last ten years, Community has told us what they want answerability and accountability to look like. The first part of that work is Ngarrakeetoong Martongakeeyt (meaning ‘big/long see’ in Keerray Woorroong) — the Community Vision — Community’s own description of a future of prosperity, in six parts.

Strong & Connected First Peoples’ Collective Decisions

grounded in cultural governance

exercise our collective self-government that has existed from time immemorial and support stronger nation-building for our mobs

Economic
Self-Determination

to build economic prosperity for our communities

Country, Culture and Community

is central to our lives

to heal and look after our Country, and to maintain and strengthen our connections to Country, Culture and Community

Ngarrakeetoong Martongakeeyt

Truth, Healing
and Justice

ongoing truth-telling and healing for our communities using Yoorrook as a foundation for justice.

A New Relationship between First Peoples & the State

to have a relationship with the state that is built on our self-determination and recognition of us as the First Peoples of this place

Sowing Seeds for Future Generations

holding the strength of our old people, and supporting Community to be healthy and thriving

How we work with Community

Gellung Warl exists to represent First Peoples and to be answerable to Community.
We represent the hopes, needs, and aspirations of our communities.

larbargirrar gnuurtak tulkuuk, meaning ‘Community reckon/count truth’ in Djab Wurrung, is our commitment to Community. It tells the story of our journey over the last 10 years — what Community have said is the vision for Treaty and Gellung Warl. This guides us on how to engage and be answerable to Community.

larbargirrar gnuurtak tulkuuk is made up of the following four parts:

Ngarrakeetoong Martongakeeyt (Community Vision): identifies the aspirations of Community in the Treaty-era, and the goals and objectives of Gellung Warl to achieve these aspirations.
Larbargirrar gnuurtak tulkuuk principles: guides how engagement with Community must be conducted.
Community Engagement Charter: sets out Gellung Warl’s commitment to how it will implement the larbargirrar gnuurtak tulkuuk principles and how engagement will be conducted, and
Strategic Plan: sets out the strategic objectives and agenda that Gellung Warl will work on to support and advance the Ngarrakeetoong Martongakeeyt (Community Vision).

For Gellung Warl, answerability means listening, being open about how decisions are made, creating genuine opportunities for Community to yarn about our work, and being accountable for what we do.

Our principles

larbargirrar gnuurtak tulkuuk is how we work together.

It means listening with purpose, representing our diversity, making participation possible, being transparent about our decisions and remaining grounded in Culture and Country.

These principles will guide how we engage, how we make decisions and how Community can hold us to account — ensuring Gellung Warl remains answerable to First Peoples and the communities it represents.

Our commitment to Community is guided by these principles.

1. Meaningful and Tailored

Engagement is purposeful, timely and adapted to Community.

2. Representative

Diversity of First Peoples recogonised across all regions and lived experiences.

3. Inclusive

Accessible, respectful and flexible engagement for everyone to understand, participate and contribute.

4. Transparent

Open decision making and updates on outcomes.

5. Culturally Grounded

Engagement is grounded in our Lore, Law, and Cultural Authority.

Self-Determined Community Engagement Charter

The Charter will set out Gellung Warl’s commitment to how it will give effect to the larbargirrar gnuurtak tulkuuk principles and how engagement will be conducted.

The Charter will describe:

How, when and why we will engage with you

How your participation informs Gellung Warl’s decision making

How we will report back to you

What information will be made publicly available

We will also be developing a Strategic Plan based on what we have heard from Community. This will guide Gellung Warl to stay on the path of Treaty set by Community through Ngarrakeetoong Martongakeeyt (Community Vision).

Stronger Together

Gellung Warl, Treaty and larbargirrar gnuurtak tulkuuk belong to all of us. They are made from your voice — so keep yarning with us, so we can keep our path true to what Community has asked for.

Our greatest strength has always come from standing side by side. Now more than ever, we need to stand together behind this Treaty — it is a gift for our future generations.

Want to learn more? Read the Discussion Paper