Twenty-five years has passed since incorporation. The Native Title Act (Commonwealth) and Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NSW) have evolved over this period. The aim of the corporation is the development of a five year strategic plan to capture the strategic directions, challenges and actions for the organisation to build a sustainable future.
The new Board appointed in January 2021 will refocus the Dunghutti Elders Council organisation for the future by taking a leadership role in building unity across the Dunghutti nation region by;
- Strengthening the identity and culture of the Dunghutti peoples;
- Working with Dunghutti families, organisations, and Aboriginal community, Stakeholders and Business partners to build a sustainable future through innovative partnerships that improve economic opportunities and the overall social and emotional well-being of the Dunghutti peoples;
- Continue to exercise the Dunghutti peoples’ right for the return and repatriation of Dunghutti artefacts and human remains as a respectful ceremony for any past historical removal practices
Vision
To build unity and strength through cultural identity and see Dunghutti people become
resilient, strong and empowered through leadership, knowledge and education that encapsulates self-determination, economic empowerment and independence.
Purpose
Native Title is central to the Dunghutti Elders Council organisation’s role as the only registered Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) for the Dunghutti Nation area. Our purpose is to continue to strengthen the Dunghutti peoples Native Title and respect, honour and identify the continuous connection to country through our Ancestors and with our Elders so we can teach and grow our future generations and lay the foundations for a sustainable and thriving Dunghutti people.
Our Philosophies
Strong Identity
The rich cultural practices, knowledge systems and cultural expressions of Dunghutti people are a source of great strength. Keeping Dunghutti culture thriving is a necessary part of the solution to broader Indigenous disadvantage in Australia.
Truth of Our Stories
Every Dunghutti family has their story and their connections to Dunghutti “Country”. Telling the truth of our struggle and the history of the Dunghutti people is central to progressing Dunghutti self-determination, economic empowerment and independence. Building social and cultural cohesion within families, community and the Dunghutti Corporation is central to unifying and building a vision for the future. The Dunghutti Elders Council Board and Management have identified the Truth of Our Stories as central to healing the community. All stories will be shared with respect, and given the opportunity to record stories in a safe and culturally appropriate manner.
Leadership
Through leadership, the knowledge transfer and establishment of effective corporate governance, solid values and principles to create empowerment and resilience will continually enhance sustainability of the Dunghutti People and Lands.
Economic Independence
We believe knowledge is power and through innovative partnerships and economic participation, our collective primary aim is improving opportunities for the social and emotional well-being of Dunghutti peoples.
What country means to us—it is the land of our ancestors. We are connected.
The land is our body where our ancestors’ are drawing us back home, from wherever we go. The creeks and rivers are the veins through our body, they are our bloodlines. The trees, the grasses and the plains are our medicine.
Our mountains are the great range from the top of which all our rivers form. These flow right through our country, connecting us to the ocean. This is Sunrise country where the sun meets the shore. We are the Sunrise people.
