NAIDOC reflection

As I take my morning walks I typically listen to a podcast. On Sundays that is Soul Search from ABC Radio National. The content varies substantially from week to week but is mostly interesting and sometimes inspiring. Occasionally I will feel a need to follow up and learn more about a topic.

This is NAIDOC Week and the program this week, ‘Dunk ‘em in the ocean’ — The Aboriginal Catholic sharing whale stories with Rome (NAIDOC special), appropriately recognised that by having as guests Theresa Ardler and Professor Anne Pattel-Gray. Theresa is working on her doctoral thesis titled Aboriginal Spirituality: Connecting Sea and Country and spoke about how she connects her Aboriginal spirituality with her Catholicism. What she had to say should interest ARC members. The second interviewee was not Catholic but also offered interesting perspectives on Aboriginality and Christianity.

‘The humpback whale is Theresa Ardler’s totem, and she went all the way to Rome to share Indigenous knowledge of the ocean with the Pope. For her, water helps connect Catholic faith with Aboriginal culture – but what’s it like to champion Aboriginal wisdom, inside churches with a history of colonialism?

Theresa has interacted with Popes Francis and Leo. In an interesting sidelight, her interactions with Pope Leo include sharing Wordle online.