Missionaries treated us better, says Aboriginal leader

There has not been a lot of progress recently in the welfare of Aborigines in the Northern Territory. The SMH today has a report headed Missionaries better, says Arnhem leader.

From the report:

THOUSANDS of Aboriginal children in remote communities are still waking up to no breakfast nine months after the $1.5 billion federal intervention, Galarrwuy Yunupingu, the Northern Territory's most powerful Aboriginal leader, has warned.

and again:

Mr Yunupingu, a former Australian of the Year, called for the intervention taskforce to urgently build missionary-style dormitories in the communities where children could be fed, clothed and cleaned.

He said he would not shy away from criticism the dormitories would be a return to the days last century when missionaries ran the communities.

"The missionary days were good," Mr Yunupingu said. "The missionaries looked after the kids much better than the Government does today."

Christian missionaries saved the lives of many aborigines and continue to do good work today. We should keep praying for them and for the people they are trying to serve.

Abuse of aborigines

It isn't just happening in the Northern Territory.

We ought to pray for indigenous Christians and other Christians who are directly involved with them, that they may be able to continue to battle against these situations, and that the Federal government's interventions will be wise.

Aboriginal troubles—my op-ed in the Daily Tele

There's been a lot of talk in recent days about the government's response to reports of Aboriginal child abuse and related issues in the Northern Territory.

I give some perspectives from the Bible here, in the Daily Telegraph.

RESPONSES to recent government action on child abuse, paedophilia, drunkenness, incest and pornography in remote Aboriginal communities in the Territory have been varied. Some have also been stupid.