(Update: You can find a list of some more useful resources on our website here.)

All are welcome to join us as we aim to walk alongside our First Nations peoples by educating ourselves on their lives and experiences as well as the events and circumstances that have led to the many complex issues.

“Henry Reynold’s Truth-Telling informs us that more First Nations people were killed by colonisers than Australia has lost in all wars and conflicts since Federation – and contrasts the spotlight that is constantly cast on the latter, whilst governments for the past 100 years or more have attempted to cover up or downplay the slaughter of the original owners of these lands.” (Michael)

The book club arose out of a juncture of events: Reconciliation week, a church zoom meeting that considered what First Nations Reconciliation means, and the new Prime Minister’s announcement in his acceptance speech that a Voice to Parliament as asked in the Uluru Statement from the Heart would be a priority. The book club was formed, devoted to books that will educate us on First Nations Issues and is open to anyone from the church or community who wants to be part of this learning journey.

“Open Book. Open Eyes.” (Elisa)

“For me, (it) is not just about sharing thoughts on a book. With a focus on our First Peoples, the collective insight discussed in the group on the first book ‘Dark Emu’, and reading related commentaries has provided vital direction on the way I now think and for the journey into the future. I am encouraged and would encourage others to consider this opportunity to learn and respect more of our First Peoples.” (John H)

We have a morning and evening group, meeting every third Wednesday of the month with 18 members from the local community as well as the congregation. We had robust and very lively discussions of ‘Dark Emu’ by Bruce Pascoe and the controversy it raised through consideration of various commentaries including the book by Sutton & Walsh: ‘Farmers or Hunter-Gatherers? The Dark Emu Debate’. Through these discussions, we saw how evidence of history is framed in story and deeply informs and colours perceptions of the present, and agree that we have gained a fresh and more informed appreciation of the ingenuity, community and care for country of Aboriginal Peoples. Dark Emu has provided a gateway for us to begin to marvel at the rich, diverse and ingenious life and culture of our First Nations peoples before colonisation and the destructive effect that colonisation had on.

“It’s good to hear different views on some real issues. Great that this Book Club is not escapism. As a visiting Scot, I have learnt a great deal. This kind of group is long overdue. Great to see Christians engaging with the world. Great to see a Church exploring the real world. A safe space to seek truth on different issues.” (Jim M)

The next dive was into ‘Truth-Telling: History, sovereignty and the Uluru Statement’ by historian Henry Reynolds. Reynolds walks the reader through the international, British and Australian laws relating to the rights of taking, possession and ownership of land over the past 300 years and how these laws were ignored or shaped to fit and support the developing culture of lawless land grab and exploitation of the First Nations peoples by the colonisers and settlers. In ‘Truth Telling’ we see the courts and government playing catch-up to the ‘wild west’ behaviours of the settlers and pastoralists while discounting the prevailing laws that should have protected First Nations peoples from being driven off their land. Reynolds unveils historical documents that clearly show how the spread of occupation across Australia was unlawful according to the laws of the day and how Aboriginal peoples were not afforded their rightful legal protection of the British, and then later, State laws. Truth Telling is a confronting read but essential if we want to understand the many gross historical injustices perpetrated on First Nations Peoples and the importance of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in moving towards Reconciliation.