Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged to have their voices heard as voting opens for the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria election.
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The Assembly will play a significant role in supporting Aboriginal communities through the Treaty process.
The election will determine which Victorian Traditional Owners are elected to 21 of 32 Assembly seats, while the other 11 seats are guaranteed for formally recognised Traditional Owner groups.
"Our Ancestors have been demanding Treaties for hundreds of years," Treaty Advancement Commissioner and Gunditjmara woman Jill Gallagher said. "You cannot underestimate how significant this moment is.
"Australia is one of the only Commonwealth nations without a Treaty with its First Peoples. That is so wrong and we are slowly but surely setting it right."
Candidates in Victoria's North West include: Raylene Ivy Harradine, Brendan Kennedy, Jason Kelly, Nick Stewart, Rodney Carter, Kenita-Lee McCartney, Annebelle May Moore, Jacinta Chaplin, Racquel Buis-Kerr and Dale McDonald.
To vote, eligible Aboriginal community members must enrol either face-to-face or online at www.firstpeoplesvic.org
Once enrolled, people can vote in person at selected sites, via post, or online.
Voting closes on October 20.
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