National Reconciliation Week (NRW) culminates this Saturday with Mabo Day on 3 June, commemorating Eddie Mabo's successful efforts to overturn the concept of “terra nullius” which denied Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' ownership of the land they had inhabited for some six millennia. The Uniting Church’s Revised Preamble to the Constitution (2009) acknowledges the First Peoples of this land had already encountered the Creator God before the colonisers arrived and recognises their particular insights into God’s ways. At the recent UAICC National Conference, three Congress members reflected on their faith in Jesus and their deep spiritual connections to Country. With their permission, we have shared videos of these reflections from Rev Deacon Maratja Dhamarrandji (YolÅ‹u), Aunty Rev Dr Denise Champion (Adnyamathanha) and Rev Tim Matton-Johnson (Palawa). We encourage you to spend time with them as NRW comes to a close. Thanks to all the Uniting Church members who have participated in NRW in different ways. Special mention goes to Engadine Uniting Church whose members formed a choir to participate in the NRW Voices for Generations project singing Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody’s “From Little Things, Big Things Grow” – read their story here. It’s not too late to register for the information session with Together, Yes, tomorrow 1 June at 12pm AEST to find out how you can be part of the kitchen table conversations building momentum for a 'Yes' to constitutional recognition and voice for First Peoples this year. |