Listening to the Spirit : Preparing the Way : 5 July 2005
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/article36987
- Author
- Plane Te Paa, Jenny
- Material Type
- Journal Article
- Journal
- First Peoples Theology Journal
- Date
- 2006 June
- Author
- Plane Te Paa, Jenny
- Material Type
- Journal Article
- Journal
- First Peoples Theology Journal
- Date
- 2006 June
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 1
- Page
- 64-73
- Notes
- "Whether we are indigenous peoples in North America, Hawaii, Aotearoa New Zealand or Peru, the issues confronting us are the same as they ever were -- survival -- that is, overcoming our various historic legacies whether colonial or not; rebuilding -- our cultural bases of language, tradition, custom often from the remnants; contributing -- of the best of who we are into the complex and dynamic civil societies within which we each now participate". "[A]nd yet, somehow in spite of all that was and still is to be resolved, wouldn't you also agree that even with the odds against us (and these 'odds', are not inconsiderable) is it not true, that we, as the indigenous peoples of God, do nevertheless continue to survive, to overcome, to gather together, to flourish (admittedly at very different levels) and above all else to be a people of healing and hope ? Now would you also agree with me that the reason for our 'hopefulness' is precisely because we are a people of God ? It is surely this sense of belonging, of connection, of bondedness one to another as Christians across the diversity of God's creation that keeps us ever hope filled. Sure it is because I am indigenous that I can identify and empathize with all that you have experienced in terms of colonial injustice but it is not always the case that our non-Christian relatives express any sense of hope as we engage in the politics of indigenous struggle. More often than not what we hear are expressions of hopelessness, powerlessness and unrequited anger, even talk of revenge. This where we are needed to introduce the discourse of theology, the language of outrage at any and all injustice, tempered by the attitude on non-violence and mediated by the language of forgiveness and grace of reconciliation".
- "A paper presented to the National Aboriginal Consultation of the United Church of Canada held at Sudbury[Laurentian] University, 5-10 July 2005".
- Location
- General Synod Archives