Seminary of the 3rd Age - Anne Pattel-Gray - The relevance of First Nations Spirituality

An Aboriginal Connection to Land: the Source of Spiritual Life

Land to Australia’s First Nations people is a critical life source for our existence – land is life-giving, spiritual, physical, social and cultural, and ceremonial and all of these are the foundation of our Identity and connection to the land.

Anne Pattel-Gray is the Professor of Indigenous Studies and inaugural Head of the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Divinity, Melbourne. Throughout her career, she has exercised numerous leadership and consultancy roles in First Nations organisations and not-for-profit agencies and has an outstanding track record in ecumenism, especially through the World Council of Churches. She has previously held Visiting Professorships at Gurukul Theological Seminary, Harvard University and Otago University. Through her research, education and leadership Anne has been a critical and influential activist in seeking justice and equity for Indigenous peoples and in developing cultural frameworks and practices built on respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.