Indigenous Victorians can now enrol ahead of an election to establish the state's inaugural First People's Assembly.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The assembly will lead treaty discussions in Victoria and will be made up of 33 Aboriginal people, to be decided during an election in July.
Aboriginal people whose country is in Victoria are eligible to enrol, as are Indigenous people whose country is outside the state but have lived in Victoria for three of the past five years.
Enrolment is open to those aged 16 and older.
The First People's Assembly will decide the rules for negotiation around treaty, establish an independent umpire and create a self-determination fund.
Candidate nominations open on May 27 and close June 17, with voting to take place from July 8 to 21.
"Our community is about to take a big step forward on the journey to treaties," Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner Jill Gallagher said.
"If we get it right, every traditional owner group should be able to negotiate their treaty for their country."
The Victorian government passed the legislation that paved the way for treaty discussions last June.
Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation chief executive officer Rodney Carter said at the time that a treaty or treaties in Victoria presented the opportunity for the community to recognise issues such as Aboriginal sovereignty and the status of Aboriginal people as the traditional owners.
For more information on enrolment, visit the Treaty for Victoria website.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.