Respect for Indigenous Peoples 🔆

May 30, 2024

I was impacted by the efforts to honor and acknowledge the indigenous peoples who occupied the lands before the foreigners settled them and still live among them in Temuco, Chile, New Zealand, and Australia. Below are some examples of the many ways they honor the indigenous peoples.

TEMUCO, CHILE: THE MAPUCHE PEOPLE AND MAPUDUNGUN LANGUAGE

Many cities, streets, and businesses have Mapudungun names

Mapudungun translations abound

NEW ZEALAND: THE MAORI PEOPLE AND THE TE REO MĀORI LANGUAGE

“Kia Ora” is what everyone says to greet each other in New Zealand. It literally means "be well/healthy" and is translated as an informal "hi" in the Māori Language.

Many places also have indigenous names here, such as Waiheke Island and Onetangi Beach.

Mount Maunganui is a sacred place for the Maori people

Indigenous art and textiles

Church Core Values

AUSTRALIA: SEVERAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND LANGUAGES, EACH AREA TRIES TO RECOGNIZE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE

Artwork done by students at Forster Elementary School

Aboriginal History included on National Park signs

Many places with indigenous names

Rescued Koalas are named after the place where they were found

and the person who found them

Indigenous Artwork style is used for a lot

Language lessons on the stairway of the beach walk

I know we have educational displays like this in some of our parks

This sign is at the entrance to the preschool that George & Susies granddaughters attend.

The preschool staff uniform shirts also have aboriginal art designs.

At most public gatherings I attended, the welcoming speaker would begin with this statement: “We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay our respects to the Elders past, present, and future for they hold the memories, traditions, culture, and hope of indigenous Australia.” This included the Great Barrier Reef boat tour, the Brisbane Riverboat tour, and the Camp Widow.