2016 Easter Message from UCA President Stuart McMillan and Rev. Denise Champion

The President of the Uniting Church in Australia Mr Stuart McMillan has appealed for a serious national conversation on Indigenous Sovereignty in his 2016 Easter message.

In a message delivered with Rev. Denise Champion, the first Aboriginal woman to be ordained as a minister in South Australia, Mr McMillan said, “The Easter message is one of renewed hope for the world.”

“A conversation about sovereignty and how it can empower and bring hope to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples is a crucial conversation for our nation.

"Sovereignty and what that means for us as a Church is an issue we’re committed to exploring. I don’t believe that we can ever close the gap until we honour First Peoples as sovereign and negotiate treaties on just terms.”

In her contribution to the Easter message Rev. Champion - an Adnyamathanha woman from central South Australia - talks about her parents’ deep relationship with their homeland and the stories they shared.

“These stories gave us courage as we journey through this life and hope for the next,” she said. “This Easter I invite you with us on the journey.”

The video message was recorded on location at Ikara (Wilpena Pound), an important Adnyamathanha gathering place.

This video was filmed and edited by Mike Crowhurst of Cunning Crow Productions. cunningcrow.com/