Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC

Heywood

Registered with the Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations on 4 April 2007, now replaced by the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.

The Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (GMTOAC) is the registered native title body corporate nominated as trustee of the Guditjmara people's native title as determined by consent in Lovett (on behalf of the Gunditjmara People) v State of Victoria [2007] FCA 474.

The GMTOAC represents the Gunditjmara People whose native title rights and interests were recognised in Lovett on behalf of the Gundtjmara People v State of Victoria [2007] FCA 474 and Lovett on behalf of the Gunditjmara People v State of Victoria (No 5) [2011] FCA 932.

The first consent determination in 2007 recognised the native title rights and interests of the Gunditjmara people. The second consent determination in 2011 extended the boundary area, and recognised the Eastern Maar and Gunditjmara peoples as joint native title holders over the area. The GMTOAC only represents the Gunditjmara people. The Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation (EMAC) is now a joint Registered Aboriginal Party alongside the GMTOAC for this area.

Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) status in Victoria

On 28 May 2007, the GMTOAC was appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council as a Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic). On 19 July 2007, 23 April 2009 and 6 December 2013, requests to extend the boundary area were approved. The third request was related to the area that is jointly held with the Eastern Maar People.

Area of responsibility

Total land covered (including the 2007, 2009 and 2013 extensions of boundary area)

The land's most easterly point is the Victorian and South Australian border. The bottom of the town of Horsham marks the top of the region. The region covers a number of national parks including part of the Grampians, Mount Eccles, Cobboboonee, Lower Glenelg and Mount Richmond National Parks. A map of the area is attached below.

Land held jointly with EMAC

The land that was part of the boundary extension in 2013 is shared with EMAC as joint RAPs. It is located east of the Shaw River and south-east of Dunkeld. This land is highlighted specifically in the map attached below.

See the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council for a detailed decision history.

Activities as a RAP

The GMTOAC states their aim on their website (URL above):

'To continue our connection to Gunditjmara country and to progress our rights and interests in our cultural identity, social justice, native title, cultural heritage and land justice for our Gunditjmara country'.

The GMTOAC hold the following responsibilities:

• evaluating Cultural Heritage Management Plans;
• providing advice on applications for Cultural Heritage Permits;
• making decisions about Cultural Heritage Agreements and
• providing advice or application for interim or ongoing Protection Declarations

The GMTOAC have established and managed a number of projects including:

• Lake Condah Sustainable Development Project to protect the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape. 
• Gunditj Mirring Partnership Project to research, discover and record traditional and contemporary Gunditjmara land management practices.
• Gunditjmara Cultural Heritage Network to enable Gunditjmara Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders to be involved with Cultural Heritage Management Planning. 

You can find more information on the GMTOAC's projects on their website (URL above).

Related Entries

Documents

Glossary