In what has become a yearly event for the Macarthur Indigenous Church, the NAIDOC theme has been taken up in a painting on display now.
"A few of the artists of our church have come together just to do a painting and this years theme for Naidoc is to heal the country,” the church’s Pastor Michael Duckett said. "This painting is a way to express how healing can come to all people."
In a video circulated with the painting, artist Mark Manton explains the red background on a map of Australia represents the bloodshed of the massacres of Aboriginal people all over Australia. In the centre is a cross made up of boomerangs.
"The reason why is that our boomerangs were the source of our food, our provisions, our protection for our families. Likewise when I see the message of Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection we see that he is our source of provision, protection, our healing. You'll notice that I've got blood splatter, paint of red there, reminding us that Jesus was nailed to the cross so there was a through his blood comes our healing and our hope all wrapped up in what he completed on the cross."
"The hands of the children and young people symbolise the need for truth telling of past sorry business to our future generations along with the hope we have in Christ Jesus."
His daughter Tori Duckett explained: "The white dots around the whole map, they represent God's grace among our people through all generations."
Pastor Duckett quoted from 2 Chronicles 7:14, saying "When it comes to healing country, the theme, God has revealed to us a passage in the Bible, Second Chronicles and it really is all about the healing of the heart and the healing of the land."
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
"So we try just to paint that image from our hearts to yours, when there's difficult things in life God still brings healing to the heart."
You can download a pdf of the painting and explanatory notes here. NAIDOC week runs from 4 -11 July.
