Aboriginal Christians & Christianity

Christian Aborigines have nothing to hide. Ninety-nine per cent have spoken the praise of the missionary who brought Christ into their lives. —Pastor Robert Shanney, Kempsey, NSW [2]

Can Aboriginal people be Christians?

Christianity has influenced Aboriginal spirituality in many ways ever since missionaries (forcibly) taught Aboriginal people the Bible.

Since many Indigenous people have been in missions and subject to Christianisation it would surprise if these influences hadn't manifested in their spirituality.

Some volunteer to accept Christianity as their only religion, others integrate elements of Christianity into their spirituality and expressive ways while not giving up their Indigenous beliefs.

"Spiritually speaking I come from Jesus"

Steve, an Aboriginal man from the Sydney region, told me that he does not believe in the Dreamtime or Indigenous spirits. For him Jesus and God are the sole deities he believes in. Some day, he told me, God "revealed himself" to him. He believes in and reads the Bible but has to deal with the disapproval of some of his fellow Indigenous peoples.

"For me the Bible has answered all my questions about the past, present and future," he explains. "Its history is in line with modern day historians. Scientists confirm its authenticity. Mathematicians are astounded and amazed concerning the bible code found in ancient texts predicting names, events and catastrophes past and still to come."

"With this knowledge how can I not let go of former beliefs. I still respect the culture and honor the elders. Traditions and customs such as preservation of the land and native land title I'm very passionate about. It in no way conflicts with my chosen faith."

"The God that I believe in is for Aboriginal people to help them with better education, health and letting go of substance abuse introduced by the British ruling classes. By practicing Christianity I become a better Aboriginal [person]. I don't smoke (introduced). I don't drink (introduced). I don't swear (introduced). I promote preservation of the land and respect to the elders."

I still respect the culture and honor the elders... It in no way conflicts with my chosen faith. —Steve, Aboriginal Christian

Steve concludes: "Biologically I'm part-British and part-Aboriginal. In terms of my soul I'm Aboriginal. Spiritually speaking I come from Jesus and to him I shall return."

I once met an Aboriginal elder who was well versed in the Bible. When I asked him why he told me that since the Bible seemed such an important book to white people he had to find out more about it.

How Russell's life changed overnight

When Russell Kapeen was 32 years old he has had a hard time all his life. He was an alcoholic, fighting and getting into trouble.

Then everything changed overnight.

He had been out all night "on the grog". Waking up the next morning he was lying on the couch feeling grog sick. The TV was on. "It was a Christian show," Russell remembers. "I started to listen. And then it came to me... All I knew is that I had to change my life, and this was the way. I couldn't wait to get to church that night." [4]

Now almost 60 years of age, Russell is a different man. "In all that time [since] I've never had grog, smoked or sworn," he reveals.

Easter bunnies and mutton birds

Mutton birding, or just 'birding', is one of the few traditions that have remained unbroken by the attempted assimilation of Tasmanian Aborigines.

Around Easter time, instead of the traditional Christian feed of fish, Aboriginal children get a feed of mutton birds, sing in palawa kani (Aboriginal talk) about mutton birds, dance and make baskets lined with feathers of the bird to fill with chocolate eggs [3].

The Tasmanian Aboriginal word for mutton bird is yula.

Coming of Light ceremony

Many Torres Strait Islander people are Christians because missionaries arrived here in the 1870s. Their arrival meant that traditional Torres Strait Islander customs and beliefs met Christian theology.

Every year on 1 July Torres Strait Islanders celebrate the "Coming of Light" or arrival of Christianity on Erub (Darnley) Island, Thursday Island, in Cairns and Townsville, remembering 1 July 1871 when the missionaries arrived. The festival marks the interaction of the two ideologies [5].

"This is a very special day as being a Christian has made our lives better," says one of the islanders and another adds "My great, great, great grandfather Jimmy Dai brought the missionaries by boat from Darnley to Murray Island and told our ancestors they were good people. All the islands used to trade before the coming of Christianity."

Books about Aboriginal people and Christianity

Christianity in Aboriginal art

Others integrate only parts of Christianity into their lives and artwork. Paintings of the Daly River (Nauiyu Nambiyu) community, a former mission 300 kms south of Darwin in the Northern Territory, are one example. The community is still closely connected to the catholic church. Aboriginal artists like Miriam-Rose Ungunmer-Baumann and Mary Leahy Pumbum created paintings showing Christian scenes.

The inclusion of Christian stories and symbolism in traditional Aboriginal art and spirituality is often perceived as out of place and alien.

Out of respect for Aboriginal culture I use Indigenous sources as much as possible.
[1] 'Indigenous Catholics in the 2006 Census', www.catholicaustralia.com.au (retrieved 23/1/2010) [2] 'Christian reply', readers letter, Koori Mail 467 p.24 [3] 'In Tasmania, Easter means mutton birds', Koori Mail 473 p.5 [4] 'Bundjalung man is right at home', Koori Mail 473 p.21 [5] 'Special services for day', Koori Mail 480 p.37