Categories: australia
Date: 12 February 2008 07:50:35
A small word, but one with great significance in Australia at this time.
Tomorrow, the Federal Government will make an apology to the Stolen Generations. I cannot possibly, in much ignorance as well as lack of words, give any international readers a full explanation. Quoting from the Wikipedia article on the Stolen Generations:
The Stolen Generation (or Stolen Generations) is a term used to describe the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, usually of mixed descent who were removed from their families by Australian government agencies and church missions, under various state acts of parliament, denying the rights of parents and making all Aboriginal children wards of the state, between approximately 1869 and (officially) 1969. The policy typically involved the removal of children into internment camps, orphanages and other institutions.
For me, this is an important step in our country's history: it is vital we acknowledge past wrongs in order to move forward. I am very happy that our new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has taken this opportunity so early in his Prime Minister-ship. Also, for the first time in history, Australian Parliament opened its year today with a traditional welcome by Indigenous elders -- video here. Again, I find this a symbolic gesture, and one I pray may continue in the years ahead. I truly do think, perhaps naïvely, I do not know, that we are entering a new era under Kevin Rudd and his Labor Party. I can but pray it is one of reconciliation and of coming-together, community, for all.
We at work have been given the opportunity to watch the apology when it is broadcast on TV tomorrow: I will be taking it up.
And I do ask for your prayers: in particular for those members of the Stolen Generations who are still dealing with the impact of such policies in their life to this day, and for whom, while I no doubt believe an apology is wanted, this bringing up of history in such a public manner may be a very stressful time and bring back many painful memories. And indeed prayers for going forward, not in a "we've done it let's move on" fashion, but true moving on; true reconciliation; and a country where there is not a divide, as there still is, in terms of health, life-expectancy, education, employment -- to name but a few -- between the Indigenous Peoples of this Land and others.