Prime Minister,
On behalf of being appointed into your Advisor group for the apology to be made to the Australian Aboriginals, I have gather some information that may be useful in this process.
Australia was the last immense ares to be discovered by Western Eurpoeans. Before Eurpoeans came however, native Aborigines have lived on the lands of Australia for tens of thousands of years. In 1788 the English arrived in Australia, bringing with them many new traditions and ideas. The British forced the Aborigines to move, claiming the land as their own. Due to their sudden movement, many Aborigines fell ill and died. Europeans also took the best land Australia had to offer, brought foreign animals to the country, and chopped down many native trees. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that laws were passed to protect the Aborigines.
The Stolen Generation refers to the force removal of mixed race children from their families and homes by invading Europeans between the years of 1906 and 1969. These children were given to white families to promote assimilation and turn the direction of the cultures from Aboriginal to European. The “stolen” children were raised with little education or love from their white families.
Many of the children were psychologically, physically or sexually abused while under the care of their white families. These major events so early on in life may cause depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress later on as these stolen children grow older. Many do find out about their history or background until very late in their life. This bring up a painful past, filled with memories desired to be forgotten.
Australia is still feeling this pain brought on by the “Stolen Generation.” Although the Aboriginal people were finally considered citizens in 1967, and in 1976 Aboriginals received their land back in the Northern Territory, they still are being hurt by long term effects of these stolen children. Many people only desire an apology. They simply want to be identified as the group of people that were wrongfully treated, and would like a few words, simple as “I’m sorry.” Refusing to apologize in 1997, saying that what happened in the past should stay in the past, has only made the Aborigines less willing to forgive the wrongful past acts.
The tension between Aboriginals and European settlers will calmed, if and only if an official apology is made. By showing that you are strong and brave enough to formally apologize for the Stolen Generation acts, you will gain respect and pardon from many people. Many Aboriginals just want a heartfelt “sorry” to reach peace between the Australia’s inhabitants. It is in our best interest to make an official apology.
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