The Federation of Parents and Friends Associations of Catholic Schools in Qld

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Celebrating NAIDOC Week Together

In July each year, we celebrate National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week.

NAIDOC is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity for everyone to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields. Its origins can be traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920s who sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Indigenous Australians.

The theme for NAIDOC Week in 2009 is Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth. The theme encourages communities to acknowledge the status of indigenous Elders as leaders and role models.

An Aboriginal Prayer

Holy father, God of Love,

You are the Creator of this land and of all good things.

We acknowledge the pain and shame of our history

And the sufferings of our peoples,

And we ask Your forgiveness.

We thank You for the survival of indigenous cultures.

Our hope is in You because You gave your Son Jesus

To reconcile the world to You.

We pray for Your strength and grace to forgive,

Accept and love one another,

As You love us and forgive and accept us

In the sacrifice of Your Son.

Give us the courage to accept the realities of history

So that we may build a better future for our nation.

Teach us to care for our land and waters.

Help us to share justly the resources of this land.

Help us to bring about spiritual and social change

To improve the quality of life for all groups in our

Communities, especially the disadvantaged.

Help young people to find true dignity and self-esteem

By Your Spirit.

May Your power and love be the foundations

On which we build our families and communities

And our nation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Wontulp Bi-Buya, Indigenous Theology Working Group, 1997

[NIB Vol 28 No. 5 July 2009]