Yesterday in the national parliament in Canberra the newly elected Prime Minister of Australia said 'sorry' on behalf of the Federal Government for the deliberate removal of indigenous children from their families - a practice that began early in the 20th century and continued just into the 1970's. This apology was the one that the previous conservative prime minister would not give, even though many of his cabinet and back benchers agreed it was long overdue. Many members of this so called "Stolen Generation" needed this statement in order to start forgiving and moving on, a symbolic gesture that acknowledged the incredible pain and suffering wrought upon quite innocent people.
As a New Australian, I found it difficult to grasp the difficulty in this simple statement of what was obvious to myself and countless other Australians. Our Queensland State Parliament issued it's apology around a decade ago, along with other parliaments across the continent. John Howard stubbornly held out against such a move from Canberra. Along with the 'Children Overboard' scandal (a chapter in our recent history that haunted me during 18 months in Europe - it sullied our nation's fantastic record with immigration), this man resolutely on occasions reminded me of Joh Bjelke Petersen - a bastard of the highest order.
Yesterday I was most fortunate in being at my one school with a significant indigenous population. The speech was at 8am, therefore we watched a recording of the speech later in the morning. Whilst the prime minister spoke, the indigenous teacher aides wept quietly - the other staff members holding their hands and being silent and contemplative. The children (aged 41/2 through to 12) sat quietly, not fidgetting, for quite some time. I'm sure the true understanding of this historic moment wasn't completely comprehended by most, but there was a concentration from them that was impressive to behold.
Later that day, the afternoon began in the school's Reconciliation Garden, established four years ago after the passing of one of the community's elders. Aunty Maude, one of the school officers, reluctantly addressed the gathered staff and students. Even though she wept a bit, faltered occasionally and was a bit self conscious at first, she gathered herself and spoke of her family's members taken from their mothers. She spoke of her grandfather who, she said, died of a broken heart because he couldn't go back to his land (Kuranda, near Cairns) and was forced to stay at the mission he was taken to as a young boy, over 1500km to the south.
Another indigenous aide said to me afterwards that she was surprised about the thoughts and feelings the day had brought to her. She had been sort of ambivolent about the whole thing, but it had actually been quite powerful for her. I think a lot of people felt like she did yesterday. Yes, there will be the detractors who say the words alone won't solve the many difficult problems facing indigenous Australians, but many more will find it part of the reconciliation process we just had to have.
It is a start, be it only 'words', but a start towards healing and ultimately forgiving. What we can't do is ever forget. The words are below, an extract from the Prime Minister's speech. To those who didn't watch it on television, the ABC website has video to download (http://www.abc.net.au/).
Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australian.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have changed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country."
As a New Australian, I found it difficult to grasp the difficulty in this simple statement of what was obvious to myself and countless other Australians. Our Queensland State Parliament issued it's apology around a decade ago, along with other parliaments across the continent. John Howard stubbornly held out against such a move from Canberra. Along with the 'Children Overboard' scandal (a chapter in our recent history that haunted me during 18 months in Europe - it sullied our nation's fantastic record with immigration), this man resolutely on occasions reminded me of Joh Bjelke Petersen - a bastard of the highest order.
Yesterday I was most fortunate in being at my one school with a significant indigenous population. The speech was at 8am, therefore we watched a recording of the speech later in the morning. Whilst the prime minister spoke, the indigenous teacher aides wept quietly - the other staff members holding their hands and being silent and contemplative. The children (aged 41/2 through to 12) sat quietly, not fidgetting, for quite some time. I'm sure the true understanding of this historic moment wasn't completely comprehended by most, but there was a concentration from them that was impressive to behold.
Later that day, the afternoon began in the school's Reconciliation Garden, established four years ago after the passing of one of the community's elders. Aunty Maude, one of the school officers, reluctantly addressed the gathered staff and students. Even though she wept a bit, faltered occasionally and was a bit self conscious at first, she gathered herself and spoke of her family's members taken from their mothers. She spoke of her grandfather who, she said, died of a broken heart because he couldn't go back to his land (Kuranda, near Cairns) and was forced to stay at the mission he was taken to as a young boy, over 1500km to the south.
Another indigenous aide said to me afterwards that she was surprised about the thoughts and feelings the day had brought to her. She had been sort of ambivolent about the whole thing, but it had actually been quite powerful for her. I think a lot of people felt like she did yesterday. Yes, there will be the detractors who say the words alone won't solve the many difficult problems facing indigenous Australians, but many more will find it part of the reconciliation process we just had to have.
It is a start, be it only 'words', but a start towards healing and ultimately forgiving. What we can't do is ever forget. The words are below, an extract from the Prime Minister's speech. To those who didn't watch it on television, the ABC website has video to download (http://www.abc.net.au/).
Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.
The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.
To the mothers and fathers, the brothers and sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australian.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have changed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country."
The picture at the top is of some of the invited Stolen Generation guests arriving at Parliament House Canberra for the historic occasion.
1 comment:
Thanks for the commentary & coverage Owen - I'll go & watch the abc video - should be interesting & certainly about time!
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