Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10

HEALTHY PEOPLECULTURAL HERITAGEFor the Aboriginal community in Victoria, theland Parks Victoria manages is an essentialelement of their social, spiritual, economicand physical wellbeing. Around 10,400 of thearchaeological cultural heritage sites registeredwith Aboriginal Affairs Victoria are found inparks. While most sites are physical, others haveno physical form but are still significant to theliving culture of Aboriginal people through theirlink to ancestors, traditions, language, story andceremonies.In addition to Aboriginal heritage sites, ParksVictoria manages post-Settlement heritageassets, including 150 historic buildings, gardensand 2,500 historic places and collections. Thesehistoric places, objects and sites help peopleunderstand the beliefs, hopes and aspirationsof previous generations and give an insight intowhat life was like for them.Parks Victoria's goals in this program are tobetter understand and work with Indigenouspeople to care for Country and to protectVictoria's shared heritage.Co-management with Traditional OwnersIn November 2009, the State Government announcedit would be establishing Traditional Owner LandManagement Boards to co-manage Barmah NationalPark with the Yorta Yorta People and Nyah ViniferaPark with the Wadi Wadi People.Parks Victoria has been working with the Wadi Wadiand Yorta Yorta people to progress and support theestablishment of Traditional Owner Land ManagementBoards in line with the Government’s River Red Gumcommitment. Parks Victoria and the Yorta Yorta NationAboriginal Corporation developed a CommunityStrengthening Plan to identify both party’s needs andresources for implementing co-management atBarmah National Park.One of Parks Victoria’s Executive was appointed tothe Yorta Yorta Joint Body. This body advises theMinister for Environment and Climate Change on themanagement of areas set out in the Yorta YortaCo-operative Management Agreement.30 Parks Victoria - Annual Report 2009-10