Under the agreement between Bendigo Orienteers Inc and the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, the club officially recognises the Dja Dja Wurrung people as the traditional owners of this region.

Bendigo Orienteers agree to rules to protect cultural heritage in the region and promote recognition of the Dja Dja Wurrung people, while the corporation recognises that most of the club’s activities have little impact on traditional owners’ rights.

Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation chief executive officer Rodney Carter said the MOU was a first of its kind initiative that would make the orienteering group much more knowledgeable as a collective.

Mr Carter said it would cultivate greater awareness of Dja Dja Wurrung people as the first people.

Nigel McGuckian, from Bendigo Orienteers, said it was respectful to enter into such an agreement because the group mostly ran its events on public land in the region, which was Dja Dja Wurrung land.

“It’s a really positive thing,” he said.

In 2013, the Dja Dja Wurrung people signed a recognition settlement agreement with the state government, which formally acknowledges them as the traditional owners of central Victoria.

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Mr McGuckian said the club’s members were proud of the MOU, which other clubs in Australia were looking at it as a possible blueprint for similar agreements.

The MOU notes that Bendigo Orienteers’ approach to conservation and protection of cultural heritage is largely aligned with the land management goals of the Aboriginal people.

“The relationship with the land we share with the Dja Dja Wurrung, and an MOU set that out for us,” Mr McGuckian said.

The club will not have to formally notify the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation of particular events on public land in its area, so long as it agrees to certain requirements.

These include acknowledging the Dja Dja Wurrung as the traditional owners at certain times, including at events and in publications; avoiding areas when the corporation advises they are out of bounds for ceremonial or other reasons; and actively encourages members to respect and avoid harming cultural heritage, among others.

Mr McGuckian said members would also notify the Dja Dja Wurrung corporation of any cultural heritage sites found in their activities.

Mr Carter said the Dja Dja Wurrung corporation wanted to come to similar arrangements with other organisations, as it develops its joint management plan for parks and reserves in the region.

He said the Dja Dja Wurrung community wanted greater public participation.