Anniversary of the National Apology to Stolen Generations and the Indigenous People of Australia

This year, the 13th of February marked 17 years since the Australian Government apologised to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations, whose lives were blighted by past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation. You can revisit this significant moment by clicking here.

The ACT Community Sector came together to commemorate this significant event at an event hosted by the Gulanga Program, Sisters in Spirit and the ACT Council of Social Service. We reflected on the injustices and trauma experienced by stolen generations, past and present, through discriminative laws, policies and practices. These practices continue today, demonstrated by the alarming rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being removed from their families.

We acknowledge the importance of truth telling so that healing can begin, and the cycles of intergenerational failures and trauma can be broken for our future generations.

       

Attending events like this is an important step in our reconciliation journey, as they deepen our understanding, amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, and contribute to the fostering of meaningful change. Listening to the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people helps us all reflect on our role in reconciliation—both individually and collectively. It was incredibly moving to hear stories and songs from Johnny Huckle and Jayde Cooper (pictured above). A special thanks to Tracy Harris from Sisters in Spirit for MCing the event.