Put Ochre On Them
Aunty Evelyn’s plea was made as part of her presentation at the Climate and Intersectionality seminar that was held at the Centre for Ministry, North Parramatta.
“… put ochre on them” – was the passionate plea by Aunty Evelyn Parkin, of Stradbroke Island.
Relationships
The context of Aunty Evelyn’s plea was her exposition of why relationships are important to, and defining of, Indigenous peoples of the clusters of (is)lands now known as Australia.
Relationships shape how and what Indigenous Peoples think and do. Breaking relationships violates the heart of Indigenous identities (which is always plural).
Colonial Project
One of the sins of the colonial project was the breaking of the relationships that Indigenous peoples had between themselves, and between their communities with the land. There are many other relationships, but the critical issue here is that relationships are important.
Put plainly: the colonial project, which came along with the Christian project, succeeded by breaking relationships. Incarcerating young Indigenous people, putting them in jails and prisons, continue the colonial project’s agenda of breaking relationships.
Aunty Evelyn was emphatic, that the solution was not in incarceration or any other approach that breaks relationships.
Ochre
For Aunty Evelyn, the solution can come by, symbolically speaking, putting Ochre on young people. This means committing them to relationships that are defining for their people, through ceremonies.
On the image behind Aunty Evelyn (see above) is one of her grandsons, when he underwent one of his ceremonies. The image captures the impact of Ochre being put on his face – look closely at the right corner of his mouth. He was moved by receiving Ochre and being prepared for his ceremony.
Putting Ochre on Indigenous people fosters and rekindles relationships, and a healthier option compared to putting people in prisons and jails.
Mourning
On Jan 26, every year, we are invited to be in solidarity with Indigenous Australians, and to clean up the mess that the colonial and Christian projects have brought, and which we have inherited.
Aunty Evelyn has offered a solution and challenges us to find ways to make that happen in our communities – “put ochre on them,” and let Indigenous cultural ways give them direction.
Intersectionality
Aunty Evelyn’s plea was made as part of her presentation at the Climate and Intersectionality seminar that was held at the Centre for Ministry, North Parramatta (9–10 Jan 2026). The seminar was organized by the Climate Action team (see here), and more information will be shared at a later time.
On Jan 26, every year, we are invited to be in solidarity with Indigenous Australians, and to clean up the mess that the colonial and Christian projects have brought, and which we have inherited.