This year marks the hundredth year involvement of CMS in mission to the indigenous communities in Arnhem Land in the NT:1. CMS began by establishing Arnhem Land missions for the indigenous people, for protection from those who were killing and exploiting them.
2. CMS continued by trying to establish “industrial missions” (self sufficient farming homesteads) to teach indigenous people skills in farming to help them be equipped for when they would contribute to white Australian culture. All the while sharing in Daily worship and Bible readings. CMS took on board the anthropology of the day.
3. In the 1963 BHP sought to establish a viable Manganese mining operation on Groote Eytlandt. CMS was instrumental in negotiating a fair ongoing royalty for the indigenous owners.
4. In the years of self-determination CMS has turned its focus to the raising up and training indigenous leaders hence the establishment of Nungalinya College 1973, and the establishment of Bible translation of the local dialects.
5. CMS is now seeking the kinds of missionaries who are prepared to sit beside the indigenous and be their friends and equally learn from them. This is the intention of Rob and Leanna Haynes at Alyangla, Groote Eytlandt and Steve & Narelle Etherington’s role at Nungalinya College.
“History is not always fair, but CMS has nothing to be ashamed of in its actions in support of Aboriginal land rights in the years when her voice was able to make a difference. That CMS failed and the Oenpelli Aboriginal people lost is not CMS fault CMS missionaries did the best they could” John Harris
3. In the 1963 BHP sought to establish a viable Manganese mining operation on Groote Eytlandt. CMS was instrumental in negotiating a fair ongoing royalty for the indigenous owners.
4. In the years of self-determination CMS has turned its focus to the raising up and training indigenous leaders hence the establishment of Nungalinya College 1973, and the establishment of Bible translation of the local dialects.
5. CMS is now seeking the kinds of missionaries who are prepared to sit beside the indigenous and be their friends and equally learn from them. This is the intention of Rob and Leanna Haynes at Alyangla, Groote Eytlandt and Steve & Narelle Etherington’s role at Nungalinya College.
“History is not always fair, but CMS has nothing to be ashamed of in its actions in support of Aboriginal land rights in the years when her voice was able to make a difference. That CMS failed and the Oenpelli Aboriginal people lost is not CMS fault CMS missionaries did the best they could” John Harris
Bringing them Home “Stolen Generation” Report CMS 1997:
“The Australian Government and the Australian community held low aspirations for Aboriginal people of whatever descent. CMS cared more about them than did the rest of the community, but did not think further than trying to help these people to a decent independent life. Indeed many of the missionaries themselves lacked higher education. These young people committed to CMS’s care were remarkable young Australians. We did something for them but we wish we had done more”
Next month a small group of us led by Steve Pivetta of CMS WA will visit Nungalinya College and two indigenous Christian communities on Groote Eytlandt. It will be a time for us to listen and encourage, to share and to build up, to get a glimpse of the efforts of an indigenous church struggling to bring the light of Jesus to its broken community.
In preparing us for the interaction with Groote Christian aboriginal community;Space, silence, shyness, and quietness are all aspects of their culture of communication These are all things this white boy knows nothing about…
Pray that we might have safe travel, Pray that we can encourage the CMS Missionaries (Steve and Narelle Etherington, John and Leanna Haynes) Pray that we can listen and learn from the indigenous Christians of Groote Eytlandt.
GP
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