Exploring Indigenous Wisdom with Ray Minniecon
Episode 54 of Liturgical Rebels
Exploring Indigenous Wisdom with Ray Minnecon
On Monday I was privileged to interview Australian indigenous pastor Ray Minnecon. I met Ray about 25 years ago. He had a huge influence on my life and my perception not just of the indigenous people of my own country but of indigenous peoples around the world. At that first conference I wept as I heard stories of “the stolen generation” indigenous people filled with pain because they do not know who they are. I was impressed with the community minded way the conference was held and how Indigenous Elders were elected as an oversight group for the gathering. I have never forgotten the lessons I learned and the wisdom these elders expressed.
My interview with Ray Minniecon explores Indigenous heritage, environmental stewardship, and advocacy for Indigenous rights globally. It highlights the importance of land, culture, and spiritual perspectives in addressing climate change and social justice.
Key topics
Indigenous heritage and advocacy
Environmental stewardship and land rights
The impact of colonization and policies like the Stolen Generations
The need for the UN to exist as a resource for indigenous peoples
The roles and responsibilities, past and future, of the Church
Ray Minniecon is an Aboriginal pastor with roots in the Kabikabi and Gurang-Gurang tribes of Queensland. He lives in Sydney and has dedicated his life to supporting members of the Stolen Generations of Aboriginals. The term “Stolen Generations” refers to the tens of thousands of Aboriginal children who, from the late 1800s until the 1970s, were forcibly removed from their families by government agencies and church missions in an attempt to assimilate them into the culture of white Australia. Ray is a Board member with several Indigenous Ministries and organizations. He is Founder of the Coloured Digger Project and Consultant to both the Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation and the Children of the Bomaderry Aboriginal Children’s Home where many Aboriginal children were taken and placed under the Native Welfare Act of NSW.
Ray Minniecon can be found at the Forgiveness Project and on facebook https://www.facebook.com/raymond.minniecon/