Indigenous People and Victorian Reptiles

Reptiles Victoria Inc. would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. We acknowledge the presence of over 30–40,000 indigenous people. Furthermore, Reptiles Victoria Inc. and its volunteers are largely based on Wurundjeri lands, and acknowledge them as the traditional owners. We pay our respects to the elder’s past, present, and emerging. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

 

In years to come names for places, regions, and animals will likely be changed back to acknowledge and adhere to the true Indigenous people's names. These names were here for thousands of years and will continue to exist. Names as spoken during the dreaming and passed on by elders from a variety of indigenous groups. 

 

While often a source of food, some reptiles have significant stories, totemic, or naming relevance, and medicinal uses. Some groups of reptiles e.g. freshwater turtles are very culturally significant as part of their well-being and they feel a responsibility to foster and nurture these.

 

We have sourced a range of names for the most obvious reptiles that would be well known to indigenous communities. While here we have only names from two groups we will expand the names as we continue working to grow our knowledge working with other groups, and we apply the names here. We will also apply these names within brackets where possible within our website and printed material.

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Reptiles Victoria Inc. would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. We acknowledge the presence of over 30–40,000 indigenous people. Furthermore, Reptiles Victoria Inc. and its volunteers are largely based on Wurundjeri lands, and acknowledge them as the traditional owners. We pay our respects to the elder’s past, present, and emerging. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

 

In years to come names for places, regions, and animals will likely be changed back to acknowledge and adhere to the true Indigenous people's names. These names were here for thousands of years and will continue to exist. Names as spoken during the dreaming and passed on by elders from a variety of indigenous groups. 

 

While often a source of food, some reptiles have significant stories, totemic, or naming relevance, and medicinal uses. Some groups of reptiles e.g. freshwater turtles are very culturally significant as part of their well-being and they feel a responsibility to foster and nurture these.

 

We have sourced a range of names for the most obvious reptiles that would be well known to indigenous communities. While here we have only names from two groups we will expand the names as we continue working to grow our knowledge working with other groups, and we apply the names here. We will also apply these names within brackets where possible within our website and printed material.