Cultural Values Assessment Theory and Practice: Dja (Country) Relational Patina and Spirit

This book profiles the developing realm of cultural values assessments (CVAs) or equivalent studies that are becoming prolific in use and narration in the settler state of Victoria, Australia. CVAs are being generated by First Peoples’ organisations and their consultants to address land use and management dilemmas as well as pending major land use or water-related developments, major energy and road infrastructure projects, mineral extraction projects, and new greenfield suburb design and planning ventures. As CVAs are increasingly being interpreted as vehicles for Victoria’s respective First Peoples’ communities, this book explores how they are used to voice self-deterministic concerns and recommendations in considering how such projects negatively impact upon their Country, and how they could positively work towards healing and renourishing. This volume brings together some 38 CVAs, critiquing and interrogating their formative evolution as statements by First Peoples, to inform future applications in Australia and internationally.

Tandop Bryon Powell is a Wadawurrung Elder, a signatory of the Statewide Treaty (2025), and formerly the Wadawurrung Reserved Seat Member on the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. He is a s.189 Heritage Advisor under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic). He was formerly Chief Executive Officer of the Wathaurung Aboriginal Corporation and its successor Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation (WTOAC), as well as Recognised Aboriginal Party (RAP) Manager oversighting all legal cultural heritage activities vested to the Corporation under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic).

David S. Jones is Adjunct Professor in the Monash Indigenous Studies Centre at Monash University, Australia, a member of the Birrarung Council, a Sessional Member of Planning Panels Victoria (PPV), a s.189 Heritage Advisor under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic), and a qualified planner and landscape architect. He previously oversighted Strategic Planning and Urban Design activities of the WTOAC, and authored Planning for Urban Country: Taking First Nations Values into Future Urban Designs (2023).