Damon Mcknight
On February 13, 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a historic and long-awaited apology to the Stolen Generations of Australia. The Stolen Generations refer to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities due to race-based policies enacted by state and federal governments from 1910 to the 1970s. This dark chapter in Australia's history left deep wounds and intergenerational trauma, which the government finally formally acknowledged and expressed regret for. While this apology was a significant milestone, it was just the beginning of a long journey towards healing and reconciliation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Apology | 13 February 2008 |
| Who gave the Apology | Prime Minister Kevin Rudd |
| Who was the Apology addressed to | The Stolen Generations, an estimated 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families as children |
| What was the Apology in response to | The forced removal of children from their families and communities through race-based policies set up by State and Federal Governments from 1910 to the 1970s |
| What was the impact of the Apology | It formally acknowledged the deep pain, suffering, and injustices caused by decades of discrimination and paved the way for changes to be made in the daily lives of survivors |
| What happened after the Apology | Members of Parliament and Senators debated and made statements, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, gave a formal response to the Apology |
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What You'll Learn
- The Australian government's formal apology to the Stolen Generations was made on 13 February 2008
- The Stolen Generations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- The removal of children broke cultural, spiritual and family ties
- The grassroots movement, the Sorry Book campaign, culminated in the first National Sorry Day on 26 May 1998
- The Australian government rejected suggestions of a national apology for almost ten years
The Australian government's formal apology to the Stolen Generations was made on 13 February 2008
The Stolen Generations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed as children from their families and communities through race-based policies set up by both state and federal governments from 1910 to the 1970s. The exact number of children who were removed may never be known, but it is estimated that 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were affected.
The removal of children broke important cultural, spiritual and family ties and has had a lasting and intergenerational impact on the lives and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The potential devastating social, cultural, and health consequences of traumatic experiences in childhood have been documented, with links between adverse childhood experiences and impaired health and social functioning in later life.
In his landmark speech, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd expressed a heartfelt apology to the Stolen Generations and their families, assuring all Australians that it was time to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The apology was witnessed by thousands of people gathered in Canberra and was broadcast all over the country.
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The Stolen Generations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
From the early 1900s to 1970, several Australian government policies were instituted to erase Indigenous Australian culture by removing children from their families, thereby severing their connections with their communities, languages, and land. These policies are the shame of previous Australian governments, and the current and future governments are responsible for correcting these injustices.
In 1997, the Australian Human Rights Commission released a report titled 'Bringing Them Home', which detailed the physical and emotional traumas experienced by members of the Stolen Generations. In 1998, thousands of Australians participated in the Sorry Book campaign, which culminated in the first National Sorry Day on 26 May 1998. Between 1997 and 1999, all state and territory parliaments officially apologized to the Stolen Generations, their families, and communities for the laws, policies, and practices that had governed forcible removal.
On February 13, 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd offered a formal, national apology to members of the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian parliament. In his landmark speech, Rudd expressed a heartfelt apology to the Stolen Generations and their families, assuring all Australians that it was time to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. This historic apology formally acknowledged the deep pain, suffering, and injustices caused by decades of discrimination.
While the National Apology was a significant milestone for healing, it is important to recognize that saying sorry is not enough. The Australian government must enact tangible policies to support the Stolen Generations and their families and address the impacts of unresolved trauma.
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The removal of children broke cultural, spiritual and family ties
On the 13th of February 2008, the Australian government formally apologized to the Indigenous people for the forced removal of their children from their families, which has become known as the "Stolen Generations." This practice, which occurred over several decades, had a devastating and intergenerational impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. One of the most profound consequences was the breaking of cultural, spiritual, and family ties, which caused deep and lasting trauma.
The removal of Indigenous children was often carried out under policies that targeted those who were "at risk of neglect," with the stated intention of providing them with a better life and assimilating them into white Australian culture. In reality, these children were taken from their homes, communities, and country, and placed in institutions or adopted into non-Indigenous families, where they were raised with little to no connection to their cultural heritage. This disruption to the transmission of cultural knowledge and practices had a devastating impact on Indigenous languages, customs, and spiritual traditions, many of which were already under threat due to colonization.
For Indigenous people, connection to country and community is integral to their identity and spiritual wellbeing. The forced removal of children severed these connections, causing a sense of dislocation and dispossession that has had intergenerational effects. Many of the Stolen Generations grew up without a sense of belonging, not truly accepted by white Australian society, and unable to reconnect with their Indigenous communities due to the loss of cultural knowledge and the shame associated with their removal. This disconnection from culture and community has been linked to a range of social issues, including substance abuse, mental health problems, and a higher rate of incarceration among Indigenous Australians.
The breaking of family ties also had a profound impact on the Stolen Generations and their descendants. Many children were taken without their parents' consent and lost all contact with their families, never knowing their true heritage or having the opportunity to form bonds with their parents, siblings, and extended family. This has resulted in a sense of loss and grief that continues to affect Indigenous communities today, with ongoing intergenerational trauma and a disruption to the traditional family structures that are so important to Indigenous culture.
In conclusion, while the Australian government's apology was a significant step towards reconciliation, the damage caused by the removal of the Stolen Generations cannot be undone. The breaking of cultural, spiritual, and family ties has had far-reaching consequences, and it is important that the true impact of these policies is recognized and understood by all Australians. Only by acknowledging this dark chapter in our history can we begin to heal and create a more inclusive and respectful future.
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The grassroots movement, the Sorry Book campaign, culminated in the first National Sorry Day on 26 May 1998
The Australian government's refusal to issue a formal apology to the Stolen Generations sparked a grassroots movement across the country. This movement culminated in the Sorry Book campaign, which was launched in Sydney on Australia Day, 26 January 1998. The campaign, an initiative of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTAR), mobilised thousands of everyday Australians to express their personal apologies.
The Sorry Books were a direct response to the 1997 Bringing Them Home report, which detailed the findings of the National Inquiry into the forced separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. For four months, about a thousand Sorry Books circulated around Australia, with many organisations and individuals also creating their own books. These books were an opportunity for people to show their support for reconciliation and to stand in solidarity with the Stolen Generations.
The movement gained significant momentum, and on 26 May 1998, the first National Sorry Day was held. This day marked the one-year anniversary of the Bringing Them Home report being tabled in Australian Parliament. The report made 54 recommendations, including funding for Indigenous healing services and calls for formal apologies. While Prime Minister John Howard refused to issue an apology, the National Sorry Day became a powerful symbol of the people's apology.
The grassroots movement and the subsequent National Sorry Day were pivotal moments in Australia's journey towards reconciliation. They demonstrated the broad-based backing for an official apology and kept the issue in the public consciousness. This pressure, combined with ongoing advocacy and efforts by Indigenous Australians, eventually led to the Australian government's formal apology in 2008.
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The Australian government rejected suggestions of a national apology for almost ten years
The Australian government formally apologised to the Stolen Generations on 13 February 2008, but this apology was a long time coming. The Stolen Generations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed as children from their families and communities through race-based policies set up by both State and Federal Governments from 1910 to the 1970s. The exact number of children who were removed may never be known, but the removal of children broke important cultural, spiritual and family ties and has had a lasting and intergenerational impact on the lives and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In 1997, the Australian Human Rights Commission released a report called 'Bringing Them Home', which detailed the physical and emotional traumas experienced by members of the Stolen Generations. In 1998, thousands of Australians participated in the Sorry Book campaign, which culminated in the first National Sorry Day on 26 May 1998. This grassroots movement was described as 'the people's apology'. Between 1997 and 1999, all state and territory parliaments officially apologised for the laws, policies and practices which had governed forcible removal. In 1999, the Australian Government offered a Motion of Reconciliation in the National Parliament which expressed 'deep and sincere regret'. However, for almost ten years, the Australian Government, under John Howard, rejected suggestions of a national apology.
In May 2000, in support of reconciliation and in protest of the Australian Government’s lack of an official apology, nearly 250,000 Australians walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thousands more walked across bridges around the country. In 2001, all state and territory governments had issued apologies. In 2007, the Labor Party under Kevin Rudd won the federal election and took office. They supported making a formal public apology to the victims of forced child removal, especially the Stolen Generations. On 13 February 2008, Rudd offered a formal apology to members of the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian parliament.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, formally apologized to the Stolen Generations on February 13, 2008.
The Australian government apologized for the forcible removal of an estimated 100,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, which caused deep pain, suffering, and injustices.
The removal of children broke important cultural, spiritual, and family ties and has left a lasting and intergenerational impact on the lives and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
After the apology, Members of Parliament and Senators debated and made statements. The National Sorry Day Committee also asked the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Tom Calma, to respond to the Apology.
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