Aboriginal culture

Acknowledgement of Country

Eurobodalla Council recognises Aboriginal people as the original inhabitants and custodians of all land and water in Eurobodalla and respects their enduring cultural and spiritual connection to it. Eurobodalla Council acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live. Council pays respect to Elders past, present and aspiring. We are on Yuin Country.

The people of the Yuin Nation are the traditional custodians of the land we now know as Eurobodalla Shire. Yuin people have lived in the area for thousands of years and have an enduring custodianship and connection over the land and waterways of Eurobodalla.

Council continues to work with these traditional landholder groups to support the celebration of Aboriginal history and culture in Eurobodalla.

Uluru Statement from the Heart

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an expression of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander desires for substantive reform to the Australian Constitution.

The statement proposes a permanent first nations voice to parliament, and a Makarrata Commission to engage in agreement-making and to sponsor truth-telling about the past.

Resources

Voice to Parliament and referendum

On 14 October 2023, Australians voted in a referendum to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The referendum did not pass.

Eurobodalla Council's Aboriginal Advisory Committee supported the Yes vote.

dhurga corner

dhurga is the language traditionally spoken by the Yuin people – including local walbanja and brindja Yuin – from south of Nowra to Narooma and west to Braidwood.

With help from our Aboriginal Advisory Committee, we're featuring a regular column in Council's quarterly print newsletter that introduces dhurga words and meanings.

Read our previous articles and learn about the dhurga language:

Eurobodalla Libraries and local bookshops have copies of The Dhurga Dictionary and Learner’s Grammar, authored by locals Trish Ellis, Kerry Boyenga and Waine Donovan.

Projects and partners

  • Yuin Country Explored: The Yuwinj-Dhari Bulwal-Yuin Country Explored documentary features Yuin dance, stories and artwork. The film celebrates the spirit, resilience and strength of the Yuin Nation and aims to improve knowledge of our region's history, culture and connection to country from a First Nation's perspective.
  • Aboriginal Heritage Study: Completed between 2005 and 2008, this project aimed to improve understandings and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage. All of the research reports are now available to download.
  • Caring for Ancestors: Wallaga Lake: This project involved work to identify, mark and conserve the burial sites and make a plan of management for future use for the Wallaga Lake Aboriginal Cemetery, one of the oldest and largest in New South Wales.
  • Aboriginal Advisory Committee: Made up of community members and representatives from Local Aboriginal Land Councils, this committee provides advice and recommendations to Council on matters that are of importance to the local Aboriginal community.
  • Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs): Established under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983, LALCs are autonomous bodies governed by boards elected by local Aboriginal community members every two years. LALCs assist in matters relating to housing, legal, employment and other day-to-day matters involving Aboriginal people.
  • Aboriginal Action Plan: Council's plan to improve outcomes for Eurobodalla's Aboriginal residents.

Statement of commitment

Eurobodalla Shire Council:

  • acknowledges the rights of Aboriginal people to live according to their beliefs and customs and gives due respect and recognition of customary lore, heritage, beliefs and traditions.
  • acknowledges that reconciliation means having an appreciation of how the past has impacted on generations of Aboriginal people and how we build a community for today.
  • commits to reconciliation valuing empathy, dignity, respect and fairness. We commit to working with the community towards reconciliation and to the provision of services, programs and activities that support growth and development of Aboriginal communities (adopted by Eurobodalla Shire Council, 21 December 2010).

Contact us

For more information contact Council's Coordinator Community Development and Youth, Rhonnie South: