THE NATIONAL ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ECUMENICAL COMMISSION

Welcome to the Home page of the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC) of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

We hope to provide you with information and resources regarding the major issues affecting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia from an Ecumenical Christian perspective.

The 2008 Martung Upah appeal is now on - to download the appeal letter click here.

Click here to go to our secure online donation form

Click here for the 2007 Annual ATSDF report.

Statement on the Federal Government's support of the United Nation's Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Down load pdf .

Federal Government NT intervention

 

Read NATSIEC's response to the Federal Government's intervention to end Indigenous child abuse in the NT. Click here

 Christ and Culture Conference Proceedings available NOW! Click here.

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Resource for Indigenous Women click here.

The Lazarus Demand - Overcoming Indigenous Poverty: a biblical reflection on John Chp. 11 Click here

 MOU of Understanding signed between NATSIEC and the NCCA - click here for a copy.

 WHAT WILL YOU DO TO MAKE INDIGENOUS POVERTY HISTORY?

Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.

Nelson Mandela Nov. 2006

The Make Indigenous Poverty History campaign seeks to ensure that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) do not overlook the poverty suffered by Indigenous Peoples around the world including Australia.

The MDGs do not specifically target Indigenous Peoples but Indigenous Peoples are often the ones most affected by extreme poverty and usually rank at the bottom of most social and economic indicators.

Australian key social and economic indicators show that Australian Indigenous Peoples are living in poverty: our children are twice as likely to die in infancy, and we suffer from more preventable diseases, higher unemployment, lower house ownership, lower engagement with education and we are six times as likely to be murdered.

Poverty is a very real and debilitating experience for many of our people.

The MDGs must be aligned with poverty reduction strategies that address the particular needs of Indigenous peoples. Without the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples our marginalisation and exclusion will continue.

Here in Australia we must compare the living standards and levels of health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples with those of the rest of Australia – not to the poorest of the world’s poor. In our effort to help the poor overseas we must not forget the poor in our own country.

Find out more about the MAKE INDIGENOUS POVERTY HISTORY campaign click here

The Federal Government Apologises to the Stolen Generations

On Wednesday 13th February 2008, Australia witnessed an historic event, the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Parliament, and the country, apologised to the Stolen Generations. This apology which had been a long time coming was met with tears, relief and an overwhelming sense of occasion.

Three of us from NATSIEC went to Canberra, and after queuing for some hours were able to watch the proceedings from the public gallery in the House of Representatives. It was indeed an honour and we felt privileged to be there. Afterwards, as we went down to the lawn and met up with friends and family from all around Australia all we heard was how much this day meant to Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike. That while we all recognised that without action the words will end up being empty and meaningless - on this day there was more hope that things might change than we had experienced in a very long time.  

The words have been said, now it is up to each and every one of us that the promise they contained, the promise that not only do we recognise past injustices but we will all work towards ending poverty and discrimination and disparities in health, education and housing becomes a reality.

To read NATSIEC's Statement on the apology click here.

To see some photos from our day in Canberra click here.

To read or listen to the Prime Minister's speech http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/apology/.

           Click on the flag to learn what they symbolise