The Apology: Resources
By cjpcbrisbane
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Whenever the truth has been suppressed by governments and their agencies or even by Christian communities, the wrongs done to the indigenous peoples need to be honestly acknowledged. The Synod supported the establishment of “Truth Commissions”, where these can help resolve historical injustices and bring about reconciliation within the wider community or the nation. The past cannot be undone, but honest recognition of past injustices can lead to measures and attitudes which will help to rectify the damaging effects for both the indigenous community and the wider society. The Church expresses deep regret and asks forgiveness where her children have been or still are party to these wrongs. Aware of the shameful injustices done to indigenous peoples in Oceania, the Synod Fathers apologized unreservedly for the part played in these by members of the Church, especially where children were forcibly separated from their families.
Pope John Paul II, Ecclesia in Oceania, 2001
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Today, the Parliament of Australia offers a formal apology to the Stolen Generations.
This edition of JusticE-mail is dedicated to information and resources on this historic occasion.
In part, the apology reads:
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.
To read the full text of today’s apology, click here.
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The Commission has joined with other Church and community bodies to welcome this momentous step on the path to reconciliation but it also urged the Government to re-consider its decision to rule out compensation to members of the Stolen Generations.
To read the Commission’s media release on the matter, go to http://cjpcbrisbane.wordpress.com/
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The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) has produced a range of resources for the community, schools, journalists and historians, supporting HREOC’s watershed Bringing them home report of 1997.
The resources include Us Taken-Away Kids, a magazine launched in late 2007 commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Bringing them home report. The magazine represents artwork and stories from members of the ‘Stolen Generations’ throughout Australia, and serves as a testament to the resilience of Aboriginal people and their ability to triumph in the face of despair.
There is also the recently – updated Bringing them home education module: Learning about the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and their families ; which has additional activities that complement the Us Taken-Away Kids magazine, and of course the Bringing them home report itself.
HREOC’s online resources also include:
* the Bringing them home report Community Guide (1997);
* Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the ’stolen children’ and the Inquiry;
* personal stories from the report;
* the Sorry FAQ by Reconciliation Australia;
* content of apologies by state and territory Parliaments; and
* ‘From Dispossession to Reconciliation’ by John Gardiner-Garden, Australian Parliamentary Library Research Paper series (1999).
All resources can be located here.
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Online activists, Get Up, have organised a campaign to challenge the myths surrounding the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.
They are asking for your help to challenge these myths and, as part of their campaign, they have produced a fact sheet to help you to challenge these myths.
Go to http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/Mythbusters/
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While it is important for us to mark this special day with rituals and celebrations, it is also vital that we continue to encourage governments to implement the recommendations of the Bringing Them Home Report.
To read the recommendations and many other resources on the issue and to find out what action you can take, go to the site of the National Sorry Day Committee http://www.nsdc.org.au/
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This entry was posted on February 13, 2008 at 8:45 pm and is filed under Australia, Church, Indigenous, Politics, news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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