Victoria's Traditional Owners today released a strategy to restore their leadership of the state's dynamic and growing native foods and botanicals industry, backed by the Andrews Labor Government.
Traditional Owners were joined by Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas at The Bush Café on Gunaikurnai Country in Gippsland to launch their Native Food and Botanicals Strategy.
Traditional Owners have a plan to create a strong, authentic, sustainable bushfood industry to benefit all Victorians.
It will guide recovery and reclamation of important knowledge and practices by mapping out the actions needed for Victorian Traditional Owners to restore their rights of biocultural species, knowledge and practices.
The strategy is an Australian first and outlines that the best way to turn native foods and botanicals into a major, sustainable industry is to protect its integrity and authenticity.
The Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporations facilitated the development of the Strategy with $100,000 support from the Victorian Government.
The new strategy aligns with the Labor Government's transformational plan for the agriculture sector, maximising the growth potential of key emerging industries. More information can be found at fvtoc.com.au/native-foods-and-botanicals
As stated by Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas
"Through this exciting strategy Victoria's Traditional Owners are leading the way to a strong, authentic, sustainable bushfood industry for Victoria and reclaiming ancient knowledge and practices."
As stated by Rodney Carter Chief Executive, Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and Project Control Group Chair
"This Strategy is about making sure that economic development is a positive thing for our communities, that it, safeguards our traditional knowledge and helps us to authentically share our culture and ancient wisdom with the world."
As stated by Paul Paton, CEO of the Federation of Victorian Traditional Owner Corporation
"With Treaty just over the horizon, this is another great example of the Victorian Government empowering Traditional Owner leadership, in self-determination mode, to build a future where we can all benefit from the traditional knowledge and practices passed on to us by our ancestors, and celebrate that with pride."
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Jane Garrett
"The development of this industry must be led by Victorian Traditional Owners and we are grateful for the work they have done to get us here today."
