Our Progress – Respect
Understanding of, and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, rights and experiences underpins progress toward reconciliation. Without respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of doing things, respectful non-discriminatory relationships are unable to build and flourish. Only with pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and heritage, are we able to foster a truly shared national identity across our Church. Many of us can connect to First Nations peoples in the Lutheran communities in the far west coast of South Australia, or those in Central Australia in Alice Springs and more isolated communities in the care of the Finke River Mission, or in far north Queensland. The fact is that ‘closer to home’, are we fully aware of First Nations people who may well be sitting (or not) in our pews in our very own congregations and ministry spaces, or who may be providers/recipients of our services. We may not because they have chosen not to share their cultural heritage. In the act of reconciliation what can you and I do differently to make people feel culturally safe to share?
| Action | Deliverable | Timeline | Responsibility | Progress | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5. | Increase understanding, value and recognition of First Nations cultures, histories, knowledge and rights through cultural learning | (a) Explore and document the contribution First Nations cultures, histories, knowledge and rights have had, and continue to make, in the Lutheran Church of Australia | June 2021 | Lutheran Archives RAP Project Officer | Lutheran Archives | Extensive data collections, photographic, film and audio recordings, and artefacts documenting the long and deep histories of the Church’s engagement with First Nations peoples providing glimpses of how this engagement has shaped the Lutheran Church of Australia since early 1800s to current day. NAIDOC Week Celebrating Contributions of First Nations Peoples to LCA The Song Keepers Video: Stories from Country |
| (b) Conduct a review of cultural learning needs within our organisation | November 2020 | Manager Church Worker Support Department | Churchwide Office Staff undertake 'Share Our Pride' activity in order to guide Cultural Awareness needs. Results collated and prepared as a report. Share Our Pride Analysis Engaged Basil and Rosalind Coleman (Kaurna woman) to present a Cultural Awareness presentation 'Hearing Better the Indigenous Voice' at the Nov 4 Staff Day Cultural Awareness Ngapartji-Ngapartji |
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| (c) Communicate and encourage staff to use Reconciliation Australia’s Share Our Pride online tool | August 2020 | Manager Churchworker Support Department RAP Project Chair | RAP website | Resources page. Links provided and promoted to Reconciliation Australia's Share Our Pride Online cultural awareness. Share Our Pride Churchwide Office Staff invited to engage in this activity. Share Our Pride Activity Task |
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| 6. | Demonstrate respect to First Nations peoples by observing cultural protocols | (a) Support Lutheran Church of Australia Districts, congregations, agencies and community groups to identify and develop an understanding of who are the local Traditional Owners or Custodians of the lands and waters within their local area | June 2021 | Executive Officer Local Mission | RAP website | Resources page | provision of link to Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Map of Indigenous Australia outlining the diversity of language areas. AIATSIS Map Gambay: Interactive First Languages Map |
| (b) Increase understanding of the purpose and significance behind cultural protocols, including, but not limited to, Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country protocols across the LCA | August 2020 | Office of the Bishop | Development and publication of LCA Acknowledgement to Country - RAP Website | RAP document LCA Acknowledgement of Country RAP website | Resources page | Provision and promotion of Welcome or Acknowledgment to Country, Reconciliation Australia's Fact Sheet Fact Sheet FAQs Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country Engagement of proud Kaurna woman, Rosalind Coleman to present Welcome to Country at LCA events: CWO Staff day, November 4, 2020 | 2020 Ordination Service December 6, 2020 Rosalind Coleman LCA Ordination Welcome RAP Website Resources Use of Appropriate Language "Our Language is Sacred" Meaning of Country to First Nations Peoples FAQs Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country Guide to understanding the Statement from the Heart |
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| 7. | Build respect for First Nations cultures and histories by celebrating NAIDOC Week | (a) Raise awareness and share information amongst the LCA about the meaning of NAIDOC Week | July 2020 | Executive Officer of the Church | Provision of advice re postponement of 2020 NAIDOC week celebrations November 8 - 15, 2020 NAIDOC Week postponement RAP website | Resources page | 2020 NAIDOC Week Theme and Poster Poster | origins of NAIDOC week Origins NAIDOC Week LCA e-news | Raising awareness links to NAIDOC website LCA e-news NAIDOC Week LCA CWO engage in NAIDOC week devotional activities Promotion of NAIDOC resources within LCA Schooling network Lutheran Schools LEVNT 2021 NAIDOC Week Themed Heal Country 2021 NAIDOC Week Theme and Poster Artwork History of NAIDOC week |
| (b) Engage LCA Districts to promote NAIDOC Week events in their local areas, including events outside the church's area of influence | July 2020 | Executive Officer Ministry Support | LCA e-news | Raising awareness links to RAP and NAIDOC website Always Was, Always Will be! Advice to the National Lutheran Schools network of NAIDOC week educational resources and further opportunity for Victorian Schools to engage in School resources webinar. RAP website | Resources page | LCA Worship Planning Page, development, promotion of worship resources Worship and Devotions Resources Promotion and subscription to Virtual Indigenous Film Festival for NAIDOC Week 2020! Five powerful Indigenous films and live filmmaker Q and A's streaming each night from 11th-15th November. Virtual Indigenous Film Festival 2020 NAIDOC Week Events Promotion through LCA Facebook 2021 NAIDOC Week 2021 NAIDOC Week Worship Resources 'The Blessing': Australia's First Peoples Version Ideas for planning NAIDOC week activities |
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| (c) RAP Working Group and Project Team to participate in an external NAIDOC Week event | First week in July, 2020 | RAP Project Chair | Promotion and engagement in online seminars Voice, Truth Treaty a 3-part presentation by the The UNSW Indigenous Law Centre and Uluru Statement Dialogue 22/10 (Voice) Voice 29/10 (Treaty) Treaty 5/11 (Truth) Truth Attendance at a Training Aboriginal Christian Leader's (TACL) networking and morning tea event 13/11/20 Promotion and engagement in the National Council of Churches Australia quarterly Assembly: Engaging with the Statement From the Heart |
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| 8. | Celebrate and acknowledge the role of the Church in reconciliation | (a) Identify education material that acknowledges the origins of the national week of prayer and its journey to reconciliation | June 2021 | RAP Project Officer | RAP website | Resources page: National Week of Prayer Origins of National Reconciliation Week |
| (b) Investigate and collate a calendar of significant dates both, for First Nations peoples, and those within the history of the LCA and their engagement with First Nations communities | October 2020 | Lutheran Archives RAP Project Officer | RAP website | Resources page: Significant Dates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Significant Dates Annual Promotion of significant dates for Indigenous peoples in Lutheran Media Calendar, LLL Calendar and LCA Year Book List of Significant Dates | Distribution Lutheran Media, LLL Calendars Lutheran Media Acknowledgement Promotion and celebration of National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day, 4 Aug Promote commemoration of the annual Anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, 13 Feb LCA Facebook 13th Anniversary of National Apology Resources National Apology FAQs History Timeline of LCA Ministry engagement with First Nations peoples in: South Australia Central Australia Queensland |
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