William DumasACC INDIGENOUS FORUM

The ACC Indigenous Initiative is committed to create awareness and engage with the Indigenous people of our nation, by resourcing churches and leaders, and raising up Aboriginal and Torres Strait leaders.

The National Indigenous Initiative team continues to represent their respective states by providing cultural training and advice to churches, Christian schools and community organisations, who are seeking to understand and include a strategic approach to Aboriginal Cultural Safety and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage. Aboriginal Cultural Heritage refers to the knowledge and lore, practices and people, objects and places that are valued, culturally meaningful and connected to identity and Country. It also shapes identity and is a lived spirituality fundamental to the wellbeing of communities through connectedness across generations. Understanding these principles opens the door for meaningful relationships and an openness for Cultural Safety, which in turn prepares for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to significantly impact a person’s life and transform a community. Learning how to do Ministry Differently 2020 was a year to remember how to continue to be relevant and accessible to minister when our ways of doing ministry is turned upside down. Zoom meetings became a way life for most meetings, training flourished and opportunities to reach more people became a reality. Events

National NAIDOC Week was postponed from its annual celebration during the first week of July and hosted later in November 2020 when COVID restrictions allowed smaller gatherings. The annual ACC National Indigenous Conference was also cancelled in 2020 and retains the same theme for 2021 ‘Helaing the Land’ which will be held in Tweed Heads on the 3-4 September 2021. Indigenous Issues 2020 also bought to the forefront Indigenous Issues that have affected and plagued our Indigenous people for years, such as Black deaths in custody. Marches were held around the nation and supported by Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, churches, pastors, and everyday individuals who learnt the stories of years of tragedy and abuse of authority. Many found it confronting and unbelievable, and some minimalised the truth revealing stories that were being exposed, but for the majority of Australians, they saw firsthand the pain and suffering that Indigenous families had endured for years. This opened great conversations and some challenging conversations as well for us as the Indigenous Initiative team, mostly though, people just wanted to know how they can be supportive and involved with their local communities.

WILLIAM & SANDRA DUMAS

ACC Indigenous National Directors