Welcome to the

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission

(NATSIEC)

Notice about the NATSIEC Webpages.

NATSIEC is currently experiencing intermittent faults with this website – sometimes the links do not work. Unfortunately we are unable to fix the problem at this time. If you do have any trouble when trying to download any of our resources please email grussell@ncca.org.au for an email version.

The NCCA is in the process of developing a new website which should be operational in a couple of months. Until then we apologise for any inconvenience.

In early June 2009, NATSIEC hosted a forum of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Church leaders to discuss the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) also known as the Intervention. The aim of the Forum was to develop a common voice from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Church bodies and to develop a common platform for action.

The meeting was attended by NATSIEC members and included representatives from the Salvation Army, the Churches of Christ, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC), and the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC). Also attending the meeting were representatives of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Alliance (NATSICA) and the Evangelical Alliance (EA). NATSIEC also invited people from the Northern Territory to help inform our discussions and were pleased that Bishop Greg Thompson, the Anglican Bishop of the Northern Territory, Mrs Didamain Uibo, an Aboriginal educator as well as Dr L. Lee Levett-Olsen, the Principal of Nungalinya College in Darwin were able to attend.

We met over four days and focused our attention particularly on the Northern Territory Intervention. The key areas of concern were the lack of proper negotiation with Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory and the lack of voice given to many community people. An additional area of concern was the discriminatory nature of the Intervention.

The forum participants also discussed the role that Churches can play in the Northern Territory and more generally on issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples around Australia. There was agreement about the importance of Churches actively engaging in these issues and being a prophetic voice for justice for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. There was also strong support to encourage Governments to learn from Churches, as the common experience is that Churches and their agencies have largely been ignored in the roll out of the Intervention. This is despite the fact that they are present in communities across the Northern Territory and have a long history of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. This tradition continues today where Churches and their agencies are major providers of many community services in education, health, welfare and other areas.

While there were many examples spoken about where Churches have taken a lead and provide models for successfully working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, there are still areas where Churches too can increase their effort. These areas are reflected in the Forum statement.

NATSIEC is committed to working on the outcomes of this forum and, together with NATSICA, have committed to organise a Church Forum later in 2009, in the Northern Territory. This will be part of our ongoing commitment to ensure that the issues facing those impacted by the Intervention are understood amongst our members and the wider Church community and to highlight areas were the greatest advocacy is required.

To download the Forum Statement Click Here.

Download our latest resources for the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation (27^th May to 3^rd June). The Week of Prayer for Reconciliation, and National Sorry Day which is on May 26th, reminds us of unfinished business concerning the needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia. Christ calls us to actively work for reconciliation and forgiveness, and to address the hardships and injustices experienced by our Indigenous sisters and brothers.

To download Prayer and Reflections for each day Click here

To download an Order of Service for Week of Prayer Click here

To download Illuminations - an Occasional Paper. This edition contains a reflection by Rev Sealin Garlett on the Apology and the Story of Samuel. Click here.

To download an MP3 recording of Rev Sealin Garlett's address Click here - PLEASE NOTE THIS FILE IS 13.6 MB

This resource has also been prepared to compliment the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity which overlaps from the 24^th May to the 31^st May. Resources for this can be found at http://www.ncca.org.au/departments/faith_and_unity/weekofprayer

We hope this prayer booklet will assist you in your preparation for this important week.

 NATSIEC STATEMENT FOR RECONCILIATION WEEK Click here

  In Conversation

 

Graeme Mundine and Jonathan Inkpin are "In Conversation" about Ezekiel 37. Jonathan and Graeme discuss unity as opposed to uniformity; diversity not sameness. They relate the reading to an Aboriginal understanding of land and themselves as a people. Jonathan and Graeme also talk about nation building and racism and what can be learnt from an Aboriginal knowledge of the Spirit.  

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this video are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of the NCCA, NATSIEC or NSW Ecumenical Council.

 

To watch more from the In Conversation series click here

Martung Upah 2009 has now been launched.

Martung Upah is NATSIEC's major fundraising appeal launched annually in May. Income received from this appeal allows us to fund our work, including our development fund.  

Your gift makes an enormous difference to the work of NATSIEC. Without it, we would not be able to provide educational resources to the wider community; engage the Churches in Indigenous issues or fund important community development projects. Our aim is to build a better tomorrow for all our children so that injustice and discrimination will not be part of Australia’s future.

To go to the Murtung Upah page please click here

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.

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

NATSIEC on FACEBOOK

NATSIEC has set up a public profile on FACEBOOK as well as a Make Indigenous Poverty History cause page. It's easy to keep up to date on latest information and actions by becoming a FAN of NATSIEC. You will be able to see our posts on latest news and we can send you a message when we have updated the page. 

To become a fan of NATSIEC search for NATSIEC and go to the page that comes up and click become a fan.

To link to the Cause page, search in the Causes application for Make Indigenous Poverty History.  

NATSIEC on YouTube

NATSIEC has recently set up an account on YouTube and is now uploading various video resources. You can find NATSIEC videos by searching for NATSIEC on YouTube. You can also view the videos from the NATSIEC website by pressing play where you see the video on the page.