Waterway

Yorta Yorta Nation

Yorta Yorta Country includes the riverine plains of the Goulburn Broken Catchment, including the junction of the Goulburn and Murray Rivers. Yorta Yorta Country also extends into New South Wales.

Yorta Yorta Nation

Yorta Yorta Nation is today represented by the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation as a Registered Aboriginal Party under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.

Yorta Yorta Country includes the riverine plains of the Goulburn Broken Catchment, including the junction of the Goulburn and Murray Rivers. Yorta Yorta Country also extends into New South Wales. 

YYNAC Map

In addition to the Registered Aboriginal party boundaries for Victoria, Yorta Yorta Country also extends into New South Wales. This map of Yorta Yorta Country shows Traditional land boundaries across State boundaries. 

YYNAC Border Map

Welcome to Country

Yorta Yorta country radiates out from the Murray River on both sides in all compass directions, roughly from Cohuna in the west to just outside Albury/Wodonga in the east to a northerly point in NSW approximately 20-30 km past Finley and extends south into Victoria just short of Nagambie. Yorta Yorta region includes the lower Goulburn river, and towns such as Echuca, Cohuna, Shepparton, Benalla, Corowa, Wangaratta, Glenrowan, Rutherglen, Chiltern, Wahgunyah, Thoona, and Violet Town.

The people of the Yorta Yorta Nation are comprised of 8 different clan groups, where the Yorta Yorta language is spoken by all of the Yorta Yorta clans, including the Kailtheban, Wollithiga, Moira, Ulupna, Bangerang, Kwat Kwat, Yalaba Yalaba and Ngurai-illiam-wurrung clans. The Yorta Yorta Nation is comprised of peoples with undeniable bloodlines to the Original Ancestors of the Land of the Yorta Yorta Nation. These bloodlines link our past, present and future to one another, with traditional laws, customs, beliefs and sovereignty intact.

We have continued to exercise our natural rights as the indigenous occupants and owners of country. Our social, spiritual, economic and cultural links with the area have never been broken, in other words our relationship with our country has continued since time immemorial.

The survival of the ancestral lands, waters and all its children are equally important for the continuity of the Yorta Yorta timeless connection with our inherent right. For us – the land has a spiritual connection; it’s our mother. The human spirit is born from our land and creator and returns to it upon death. The land supplies us with everything that we need for living. We must look after it, so that it looks after us in return.

Biami Image

 

The Goulburn Broken CMA acknowledges and respects First Nations people and the deep connection they have with their land and waters.


We acknowledge the Yorta Yorta and Taungurung people and their ancestors/forbears as Traditional Owners of the land and waters in the Goulburn Broken Catchment (and beyond). We value our ongoing partnerships with Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and Taungurung Land and Waters Council for the health of Country and its people.


We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge and recognise the primacy of Traditional Owners obligations, rights and responsibilities to use and care for their traditional lands and waters.

Shepparton
168 Welsford Street, PO Box 1752, Shepparton VIC 3630
T (03) 5822 7700
F (03) 5831 6254

Benalla
89 Sydney Road, PO Box 124, Benalla VIC 3672
T (03) 5822 7700

Yea
Shop 5/10 High Street, Yea VIC 3717
T (03) 5822 7700