Pastor Rodney Minniecon of
In the attached photo the large man in blue shirt and black cap slightly left of centre in the front row is
the mayor/chairman of the Torres Strait. Pastor Rodney Minniecon is in white shirt at extreme right of photo.
Many of the men are pastors.
DECLARATION FOR RESTORATION OF FIRST NATIONS’ PEOPLES INHERITANCE
The basis of this ‘possession’ is known as terra nullius, the land was seen as not belonging to anybody – despite the obvious presence of people along the shores and rivers.
Psalm 115: 16 The heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.
Acts 17:24-26 God hath made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is he worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and hath made from one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the places before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Ephesians
Declaration
“On this day, Saturday 23rd August 2008, 238 years later, we, the original inhabitants of this land, have gathered here today by the authority invested in us as granted by God and before these our ancestors and our elders and before these witnesses to raise the Torres Strait and Aboriginal flag as a sign that from this day forth, we do rightly claim back our inheritance.
We, therefore make this solemn statement by the authority invested in us as granted by God and before these our ancestors and our elders and before these witnesses, and break the ‘Terra Nullius’ curse (lie) that was proclaimed from this place, 238 years ago by Captain James Cook.
We, therefore make this solemn statement by the authority invested in us as granted by God and before these our ancestors and our elders and before these witnesses, and break the spirit of poverty and every stranglehold that this curse has brought upon us, the original inhabitants.
We, therefore make this solemn statement by the authority invested in us as granted by God and before these our ancestors and our elders and before these witnesses, to forgive those who have trespassed against us, the original inhabitants.
We, therefore make this solemn statement by the authority invested in us as granted by God and before these our ancestors and our elders and before these witnesses, and speak restoration to traditional livelihood, spirituality, cultures, ceremonies, lore and languages of the original inhabitants.
We, therefore make this solemn statement by the authority invested in us as granted by God and before these our ancestors and our elders and before these witnesses, and speak life and restoration of health, wealth and prosperity upon our Elders, our Leaders, our Families, our Homes, our Clans, our Tribes, us, the original inhabitants.
Finally, we acknowledge the great Creator Spirit (Father God) as the sovereign ruler of all mankind who gave us this land as an inheritance, and ask for His wisdom, His guidance and His blessing.
From this day
- report from Kris Schlyder of the Australian Indigenous Prayer Network