Many people who have been active in the Journey of Healing have now launched the Stolen Generations Alliance, offering all Australians the opportunity to work for healing, truth and justice. The patrons are former Chair of ATSIC Professor Lowitja O'Donoghue and former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. The Indigenous Co-Chair is Christine King, who is also Chair of the National Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Workers. The non-Indigenous Chair is Phil Elsegood, Managing Director of Cross-Cultural Consultants, Darwin. Click here for a full list of the Executive.

This website tells how you can participate in the Jouney of Healing
Speeches, 2007
Buy Sorry Day Flowers
Background Information
Implementing Bringing them Home
Recent Media
Contact Information

Colebrook Statue:
'Grieving Mother'

On 26 May 1997 the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in Federal Parliament. It brought to national attention the tragic results of removing tens of thousands of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children from their families - a policy which Australian Governments applied through most of the twentieth century.

The report recommended that a 'Sorry Day' be held. A year later nearly a million people signed Sorry Books, and tens of thousands took part in ceremonies on Sorry Day. In May 1999, this people's movement launched a 'Journey of Healing'. Ever since, hundreds of community events have taken place each year, both to help healing among the Stolen Generations and to ensure that a national focus is kept on the need for an apology by the Federal Government and the wholehearted implementation of the Bringing Them Home report.

Now the Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd, speaking on behalf of the Government and the Federal Parliament, has said sorry to the Stolen Generations:
‘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 the fathers, the brothers and the 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.’ Read his full speech

And read a response by Christine Fejo-King, Co-chair of the Stolen Generations Alliance:
‘For members of the Stolen Generations, their descendents and families, it was a day filled with high emotions. We shed tears of sadness and joy. We hugged with happiness and for comfort. And for many of us, it was the relief and peace we had been searching for, for so long.’ Read her full statement

The work of the Stolen Generations Alliance goes on, and we welcome all who wish to join us.

Speech by Christine King to the Antar Conference, 2007.

Lowitja O'Donoghue, Christine King and Phil Elsegood on the question of an apology.

Kerry Fletcher's Sorry Song now hosted by SGA

Malcolm Fraser, Lowitja O'Donoghue and Brian Butler's response to the 'intervention' .

Transcripts of speeches at the Tenth anniversary of the Bringing Them Home Report in Federal Parliament, Canberra, 24th May 2007

Listen to some music while you browse. Click here to hear Jaru Woman by Kimberley singer/songwriter Peter Brandy. (This link will open in a new window)

The following external links will open in new windows.

A site by Juno Gemes featuring pictures from the Apology in Canberra.

The ABC's special website commemorating the 2008 apology.

The ABC video of Kevin Rudd's historic apology speech in Parliament.

A new Journey of Healing web-site : Marumali

The 'Bringing Them Home report'

 

 

 

 

 

web design by anugraha

eXTReMe Tracker