Wotjobaluk People

AIATSIS Thesaurus language code and map grid reference: (S17) (Vic SI54-15)

For more information, refer to the AIATSIS Thesauri (see reference below).

The Wotjobaluk People today are descended from a number of closely related Local Groups or Sub-tribes that inhabited Central-Western Victoria for many thousands of years.

During the European Invasion, many of the surviving remnants of those Groups were forced onto a Christian Mission Station, called Ebenezer, where they eventually united and called themselves 'Wotjobaluk', which is a general term for 'All the People'.

In their successful native title claim, the first in the State of Victoria, the Federal Court determined that the Wotjobaluk people are the Wotjobaluk Jaadwa Jadwadjali Wegaia and Jupagulk Aboriginal people. For further details see Schedule 8 of Clarke on behalf of the Wotjobuluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wegaia and Jupagulk Peoples v Victoria [2005] FCA 1795 (FCA file no.: VID602/1998; NNTT file no.: VCD2005/001)

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