In Melbourne's Darebin Parklands on Thursday, after many decades of false dawns and failed promises, Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg spoke with hope.

"We have resisted. We have survived."

A smoking ceremony marked the official opening declaration of Treaty talks between the First Peoples' Assembly and the Victorian government on Thursday, with Assembly co-chair Ngarra Murray telling the crowd it was Country "that has felt thousands of generations of footsteps and was criss-crossed by our families".

"Our people have endured dispossession, discrimination, and marginalisation for generations. The scars of colonisation run deep," the Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, Dhudhuroa and Dja Dja Wurrung woman said.

"But we are still here."

The negotiations - which will be the first time a state or federal government in Australia has sat down with Aboriginal people on equal footing to negotiate a Treaty - are expected to begin in the coming days.

"We're about to embark on treaty negotiations that will make our strong state even stronger, even fairer," Premier Jacinta Allan told reporters earlier Thursday.

"Since colonisation, First Peoples in this state have been excluded from opportunity."

Treaty was needed to help "reset the relationship between the state of Victoria and First Peoples, the Premier said.

Citing successful examples of treaties from across the globe, she added: "For decades, governments around the world - be they in the United States, in Canada, in New Zealand - have had treaties with their First Peoples and it's been shown to drive better outcomes."

"We need to change, we need to listen, we need to close the gap, and it's not happening now."

Ms Murray described treaties as "a bridge," labelling it an "invitation to engage in relationships founded on respect, recognition and shared responsibility".

"Treaty must acknowledge the enduring impact of colonisation and restore the inherent rights of First Peoples," she said.

"We need people to accept the Truth about what was done to us and how the impacts are still felt today."

Her fellow co-chair, Mr Berg said, when an agreement was eventually reached, "we hope these items will be kept in Parliament and serve as an ongoing reminder to all Victorians of what Treaty is all about".

He said the Assembly wanted Treaty to ensure Indigenous communities across the state "will always have the freedom and power to come up with solutions at a local level".

"Past Governments have tried to take that right away from us – along with so much more. But we have resisted. We have survived," he said.

"And now Treaty is about striking a fairer deal."

In January the Victorian Coalition withdrew their previous bi-partisan support for Treaty, and opposition leader John Pesutto said whilst their position hadn't changed, he respected "the fact that there are different views".

"I do believe it's incumbent on Premier Jacinta Allan, at all stages now, to take the Victorian people into her confidence and make sure that all Victorians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, understand what's being negotiated, what's on the table and what's not on the table," he said.

Premier Allan said the government had been given a mandate twice - in both 2018 and 2022 - and once the negotiations had been completed, they would be put to state parliament like other legislation.

She said once that happened, it would be incumbent on every member of parliament to make a decision about treaty and reform.

"Do you want to walk with us on this journey to get those better outcomes or will you turn your back?"

For Ms Murray, she was unequivocal.

"Together we can embrace our shared future. Together we can build a future based on respect and unity," she said.

"I urge everyone who calls Victoria home to walk with us on this journey. Support this treaty not just with words, but with action."