Prayer for Indigenous Australians

Creator God,

Our faith is enriched by believing that every person is somehow made in your image. Such a big idea, that people from every land, culture and language carries something of your life and hope.

It is the end of NAIDOC week so today we bring before you the indigenous people of this land.

We acknowledge the history of occupation and settlement that has damaged the relationship between them and later arrivals to this land.

We acknowledge that this occupation and settlement was based on the legal understanding of Terra Nullius, until this was overturned by the Mabo High Court decision of June 1992. The doctrine of Terra Nullius ignored indigenous sovereignty, laws and customs. The land was regarded as nobody’s land and therefore free to be claimed by the British Empire.

Just this week we have been reminded of the many massacres that took place on this soil. How fear, and greed and prejudice ruined the possibility of welcome and coexistence.

Thank you for the steps that have been and continue to be taken on the journey towards reconciliation. The grace that so many aboriginal people have shown to us and others, and the willingness to forgive.

Deepen this process among us.

Guide national and community leaders to speak the truth in love, to seek justice with mercy and to care for those who continue to experience devastating disadvantage.

We lament with our aboriginal sisters and brothers the enormous loss of languages and the loss of identity, culture and ancient wisdom that disappears with them.

Strengthen indigenous church leaders to shepherd your flock faithfully, and strengthen all indigenous people to be salt and light in their communities and in the whole nation.

Give indigenous and non-indigenous believers the courage to demonstrate the new community you are inviting us to create in your name.

A new community out of people from every nation, tribe, language and people, through

Wisdom and your spirit of peace.

Amen.