Listening to First Nations insights
Three reflections from the UAICC National Conference 2023 shared for National Reconcilation Week
May 31, 2023
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) culminates this Saturday with Mabo Day on 3 June, commemorating Mer Island man Eddie Koiki Mabo and his successful efforts to overturn the legal concept of “terra nullius” which denied Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people ownership of the land they had inhabited for some six millennia.
"they had already encountered the Creator God before the colonisers arrived..."
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then subscribe to our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox.
The Uniting Church’s Revised Preamble to the Constitution (2009) states that through this land God nurtured the First Peoples of this country, that they had already encountered the Creator God before the colonisers arrived and that the same love and grace revealed in Jesus had sustained First Peoples giving them particular insights into God’s ways.
At the heart of our covenant relationship with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress is a commitment as First and Second Peoples to seek to live out a fuller expression of our reconciliation in Jesus Christ, and for us Second Peoples, to listen to the insights of our First Nations siblings.
At the recent UAICC National Conference, three Congress members presented on what it means to be a First Nations Christian today, reflecting on their faith in Jesus and their deep spiritual connections to Country and creation.
With their permission, we have shared videos of these reflections from Rev Deacon Maratja Dhamarrandji (Yolŋu), Aunty Rev Dr Denise Champion (Adnyamathanha) and Rev Tim Matton-Johnson (Palawa).
Rev Deacon Maratja Dhamarrandji shares in his Djambarrpuyngu language about the 'strong agreement' he finds in Yolngu ways of knowing and his faith in Jesus. He speaks about the Yolgnu understanding of justice as the restoration of right relationships and recompense when relations are broken.
Aunty Rev Dr Denise Champion speaks about the affirmation of the Revised Preamble that God was already here and known by her people and the freedom this brings to her life.
Rev Tim Matton Johnson speaks about the truth-telling yet hope-filled theology of Aboriginal chief Woureddy and reflects on the ray of light and unexpected joy he finds in God’s creation.
We encourage you to spend time watching these videos as we mark National Reconciliation Week. They may prompt opportunities for discussion and sharing in your community.
The videos will be added to “Going Deeper” section of the Living the Covenant Locally resources. Find out more here: https://uniting.church/livingthecovenantlocally/
To learn more about First Peoples spirituality, you might like to purchase books by Aunty Rev Dr Denise Champion, Anaditj, or, now available for pre-order, the reprint of Yarta Wandatha
Related news
Rev Don Pederick: An extraordinary life and ministry
Rev Don Pederick: An extraordinary life and ministry A faithful servant of the Uniting Church, Rev Don Pederick recently celebrated a milestone birthday and another year of dedicated ministry. We take a moment to honour himThe Uniting Church in Australia has been shaped and sustained by the quiet, steady faithfulness of people like the Rev…
Following Footsteps, Bringing Hope
Following Footsteps, Bringing Hope Earlier this month, our outback ministry agency Frontier Services commissioned Pastor Kirsty Burgu as its newest Bush Chaplain to stand with those living in the remote West Kimberley region of Western Australia In the West Kimberley, where ancient and biologically rich landscapes stretch wide beneath an endless sky, a new…
Paul Minty named full-time EO to National Commission
Paul Minty appointed as full-time Executive Officer to National Commission for Governance, Resourcing and Administration Dr Paul Minty brings to the role a unique blend of technical expertise, leadership experience and ministry engagement Subscribe to our newsletter If you want to get the latest news from the Uniting Church in Australia then…
Welcoming First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance
UCA, UAICC and UnitingCare Australia welcome First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance The announcement was made this morning by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a speech at the Garma Festival in Gulkula Uniting Church, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress and UnitingCare Australia welcome First Nations Economic Empowerment Alliance as a step toward shared prosperity…
Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2025
Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2025NAIDOC Week 2025 marks 50 years of honouring Indigenous voices, culture and resilience. The Uniting Church, together with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC), celebrates this milestone and the enduring strength of First Nations peoples. NAIDOC Week has grown into an annual event of hope, truth-telling and a powerful declaration…
Planting Hope: Vision, Volunteers and a Community Revitalised
Planting Hope: Vision, Volunteers and a Community Revitalised A 20-year dream has been fulfilled in the outback terrain of South Australia, bringing the hope of Jesus to a remote communityBy Rob Floyd, National Director of Frontier ServicesIt isn’t often that you embark on an epic journey, through vast expanses of desert, to witness the birth…
Yarta Wandatha: The land is speaking
Yarta Wandatha: the land is speaking, the people are speaking Walking with Elders, learning from their ancient wisdom and wrestling with the lessons that creation – ‘God’s oldest voice’ – has to teach us todayThis article was first published in VOX, the bulletin of the University of Divinity. It is republished with permission. By Dr…
Welcome to Country: an ancient, sacred ritual
Welcome to Country: a sacred ritual inviting us all into deeper relationship with this ancient land Uniting Church President Rev Charissa Suli has written a response after two deeply hurtful events related to Welcome to Country ceremonies on Friday sparked painful debate about the place of the custom in public life Rev Charissa Suli, President…