Rights of Indigenous People

In our short history in this ancient land the Province has been involved with different Indigenous communities: healthcare projects, schools in the Kimberley region, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, art and capacity-building projects. In recent years, the Province had a number of Sisters engaged in ministry among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Western Sydney, the Daly River region and through various community service and welfare organisations. Sr. Veronica Brady ibvm and many others are well known for their advocacy on Indigenous issues. Indigenous Rights are one of Catholic Religious Australia’s justice platforms supported by the Loreto province and co-workers. 

A number of the Province ministries have a focus on working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Mary Ward International Australia partners with Catholic Care’s Men’s Project in Bourke, New South Wales. Meanwhile, our Loreto schools honour our Indigenous heritage and spirituality, have partnerships and run immersion programs with Aboriginal communities, educate Indigenous students and support past students, and ensure that Indigenous perspectives are embedded across the curriculum. Our schools, boards and workplaces mark the following programs with pride:  National Sorry Day, Close the Gap, National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week. Loreto workplaces are developing Reconciliation Action Plans in support of our First Nations people. Across 2019 and 2020 Loreto encouraged personal and communal reflection on the Uluru Statement from the Heart. 

Resources 

• Uluru Statement from the Heart  
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Catholic Council             
• Reconciliation Australia                                                              
• Close the Gap 2020 Report 
• National Reconciliation Week 
• A Voice in the Wilderness (Celia Kemp) – Reflection material based on the Uluru Statement
• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 
• Indigenous Rights and Catholic Social Teaching  

Feature Image: Lua Pellegrini, Year 12, Loreto Normanhurst, HSC artwork ‘Our Past, Her Future’