The Australian Embassy to the Holy See has produced a video for NAIDOC Week 2020.
The video, which includes Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Holy See voices, highlights Indigenous knowledge and links this to Pope Francis’ call for the care of our common home. It was created in place of an event held in the Vatican, which was unable to go ahead due to the pandemic situation in Italy.
In an official message, Chiara Porro, the Australian Ambassador, said “Australia’s Indigenous people have played a significant role in the history of Australia as our continent’s first inhabitants.
“Their expertise and knowledge, accumulated over more than 65,000 years, is still very relevant today, particularly in relation to the care of our environment.
“Their relationship to the land and focus on the care of creation has enabled them to adapt and live harmoniously in one of the harshest environments on our planet. They have endured the impacts of climate change, catastrophic droughts and devastating floods.
“Pope Francis has spoken often about the importance of valuing indigenous knowledge.
“He says Indigenous people know what it means to listen to the earth and to live in harmony with the earth, and describes them as a ‘cry of hope’ in the face of the earth’s suffering. This, of course, was a key thread of the Amazon Synod in 2019.
“We hope this short film will continue the conversation started at the Amazon Synod, shifting the focus to our region.” she said.
To find out more about NAIDOC Week, visit https://www.naidoc.org.au/
With thanks to the Australian Embassy to the Holy See.
