Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation facts for kids
The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation is an important group that represents the Wurundjeri people. The Wurundjeri are an Aboriginal Australian people who have lived in the area around Melbourne, Victoria, for a very long time. This Corporation helps to protect their culture, history, and special places. It used to be called the Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council.
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History of the Wurundjeri Corporation
The Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council started in 1985. It was created by the families of the Wurundjeri people, who are the traditional owners of the land around Melbourne. Three main family groups, the Nevins, Terricks, and Wandins, were part of this council. It included about 30 elders and 60 other members.
All members of the Corporation are descendants of a Wurundjeri man named Bebejan. He was a leader, called a Ngurungaeta, of the Wurundjeri people. Bebejan was present when John Batman signed a "treaty" in 1835.
In 2003, there were some questions about how the organization was managing its money. The group later became a Registered Aboriginal Party under a new law in 2006. This allowed them to keep making important decisions about their cultural places.
What the Corporation Does
The Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation has several important jobs:
- It helps everyone learn more about Wurundjeri culture and history.
- It looks after important archaeological sites and places that have special cultural meaning.
- It works to improve the lives of Wurundjeri people and their families today.
- It performs Welcome to Country ceremonies. These ceremonies can include speaking in the traditional language, dancing, and smoking rituals.
The Victorian Government has given the Corporation some culturally important land to manage. These sites include:
- The Sunbury earth rings, which are a very important ceremonial place.
- The Coranderrk Aboriginal Station Cemetery in Healesville.
Land Boundaries and Agreements
For a long time, there were discussions about the exact boundaries of the Wurundjeri land. Other Aboriginal groups, like the Wathaurong and Boonwurrung people, also have traditional lands nearby.
In June 2021, the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung groups agreed on new boundaries for their lands in greater Melbourne. The new line goes across the city from west to east. This means that the CBD, Richmond, and Hawthorn are on Wurundjeri land. Places like Albert Park, St Kilda, and Caulfield are on Boonwurrung land.
It was also agreed that Mount Cottrell would be managed together by both groups. Mount Cottrell was the site of a sad event in 1836 where many Wathaurong people died.
Office Location
In 2007, the Corporation opened an office at the renovated Abbotsford Convent. This office helps them connect with the wider community. It also provides a space for their members.
The office is located on the Yarra River Dreaming Trail. This trail is a significant part of the Wurundjeri people's creation story and their connection to the land. There are important Wurundjeri camping sites nearby that have been used for thousands of years. Close by is where the Merri Creek meets the Yarra River near Dights Falls. This area is also the burial site of Billibellary, a Wurundjeri leader. It was also once the location of the Aboriginal Protectorate and the Merri Creek Aboriginal School.
