Being Part of the Journey

By Marilyn Wall

‘We can tell our story’ was the enthusiastic response from those with whom the LCA’s RAP (Reconciliation Action Plan) project officer connected during the recent visit to Central Australia Lutheran communities.

Sharing the story of the RAP hero artwork ‘Many Eyes’ – the purpose of the visit this time was to seek wisdom on how best to share the message of the LCA RAP amongst the Lutheran Aboriginal communities.

Story telling is a skill First Nations peoples use extensively to pass down important messages to their children and others in the community – often artwork is used as a visual connection to the words that are spoken.

The story of ‘Many Eye’s’ and the inspiration behind it was well understood and appreciated by those who were part of the groups of Aboriginal people in both Alice Springs and Hermannsburg with whom it was shared. Responding to the invitation about how this could be passed on and shared to family members and others – the solution came almost immediately from the ladies themselves ….

‘we could share our own stories about what reconciliation is through our artwork and share this’ … ‘perhaps it could be videoed and we can tell our story’ … ‘then it can be shown to many’.

In another group there was a request for additional RAP posters so that they could be put up in the community and the story could be passed on.

The ‘Many Eyes’ artwork story can be found of the RAP website with a powerpoint presentation format accessible from the resources page of the website.

Marilyn Wall is the RAP Project Officer for the LCA
Picture: LJ a volunteer pastoral carer within the Alice Spring’s Lutheran congregation