JourneyOnline
The Uniting Church SA is joining with the Church’s Aboriginal arm to campaign for a treaty with the South Australian Government to restore the rights of Indigenous South Australians.
The Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) wants a treaty that is consistent with the intentions of the South Australian Letters Patent of 1836.
The Letters Patent guaranteed the rights of "any Aboriginal Natives" and their descendants to lands they "occupied or enjoyed".
Uniting Church SA Moderator Rev Rod Dyson said at the Uniting Church SA’s major annual business meeting this weekend there was overwhelming support for the treaty proposal.
"The mood of the 400 members from throughout South Australia was to strongly endorse the proposal and stand in solidarity with our Indigenous brothers and sisters," said Rev Dyson. "The Church regards this as an important social justice issue."
UAICC SA spokesman Rev Ken Sumner said such a treaty will bring healing to Aboriginal people and restore their rights.
"Indigenous people are carrying generations of pain for the wrongs of the past," said Rev Sumner.
"We bury our people and they leave this life with broken hearts because of past injustices.
"Our people die with unfinished business. We don’t want to pass this onto our children or grandchildren and neither do you.
"We are overwhelmed by the Church’s support. This is a really significant step."
The church will establish a working party with members of the UAICC to explore the matter further.
Photo : Indigenous leaders Victor Wilson (left) and Ken Sumner who presented the proposal
