Media Release
Thursday 6 July 2006
Commission
Urges Greater Support for Indigenous Australians
Brisbane’s
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission urged parishes and Church agencies
to continue their efforts to support the struggle of Indigenous people to
maintain their culture and to seek justice.
The call
was made during NAIDOC Week (National
Aboriginal & Islander Day Observance Committee) which has become a
time for Indigenous communities to celebrate the richness of their
culture.
It was
also made after the Pass
It On Message Stick was farewelled from the Brisbane Archdiocese. The Message
Stick has been welcomed by many parishes, schools and agencies in the
Archdiocese since February as part of preparations for the celebration in
October of the twentieth anniversary of Pope
John Paul II’s meeting with Indigenous Australians in Alice Springs. The Message Stick will now travel to the Rockhampton Diocese.
The
Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that there are growing
pressures on Governments from some sections in the community to eliminate
recognition of and support for Indigenous language and culture.
It is
very concerning that some politicians and think tanks are suggesting that
there should not be any effort to support the maintenance of the cultural
identity of Indigenous Australians,” Mr Arndt said.
“We
know the enormous and lasting damage which has occurred because of past
attempts to eliminate Indigenous identity and adopting the same mentality
again will only worsen the situation rather than improve it,” he said.
“As
Catholics, we need to take note of Pope John Paul II’s encouragement of
Indigenous Australians in their efforts to maintain their cultural
identity,” he said.
“Pope
John Paul II said: ‘Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and
dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear. Do not think that
your gifts are worth so little that you should no longer bother to
maintain them. Share them with each other and teach them to your children.
Your songs, your stories, your paintings, your dances, your languages,
must never be lost.’”
“The
Pope also reminded Indigenous Australians that his predecessor, Paul VI,
said in 1970: ‘We know that you have a life style proper to your own
ethnic genius or culture – a culture which the Church respects and which
she does not in any way ask you to renounce... Society itself is enriched
by the presence of different cultural and ethnic elements. For us you and
the values you represent are precious. We deeply respect your dignity and
reiterate our deep affection for you.’”
“Whether
we are talking about education for Indigenous children or the way
Aborigines are dealt with in the justice system, it is vital for us to
deepen our understanding of Indigenous culture and history so that more
effective, holistic approaches can be developed to address the many problems faced
by Indigenous people and communities,” Mr Arndt said.
“The
Commission hopes that Catholics will make every effort to develop strong
relationships with Indigenous people so that they can support them in
their efforts to find holistic solutions to their problems,” he said.
Mr Arndt
said that the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission’s Aboriginal
& Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mr
Tom Calma, had produced a
significant paper on addressing family violence and abuse in
Indigenous communities.
Mr Arndt
said that the paper provided much valuable information and recommendations
with which Catholics should become familiar if they are to understand
issues facing Indigenous people and respond appropriately.
“As
people committed to bringing the light of Christ into the lives of those
who are disadvantaged and oppressed, we need to deepen our understanding
of Indigenous people and the Indigenous issues which are being reported on
in the media,” Mr Arndt said.
“Catholics
who want to respond effectively to Pope John Paul II’s call of twenty
years ago should try to be at the forefront of efforts to maintain and
strengthen Indigenous culture and to promote holistic responses to the
issues they face,” he said.
For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.
NB This release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Charter which enables it to speak in its own right. Its views do not necessarily represent those of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.