ENIAR will mark Sorry Day 2008 in London with a celebratory event, including a screening of Australian Prime Minister Rudd's Apology to the Stolen Generations and a documentary made especially to commemorate this momentous event (The Apology - see below). After decades of hard work, Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous supporters have achieved a monumental milestone in the fight for recognition of the truth of the Stolen Generations, and this is worth celebrating, says ENIAR.
Between 1910 and the mid-1970's express State and Federal Government policy facilitated the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities to institutions or foster families with the purpose of breeding out Aboriginality. Many would never see their families again. Virtually all Indigenous families have been affected by child removal policies and the trauma and suffering continues to the present day. Indigenous Australians' life expectancy is 17 years lower than non-Indigenous Australians, and rates of infant mortality, disease and illness and unemployment far exceed the rest of Australian society.
Since the Bringing Them Home Report of 1997, Sorry Day has been a call for a Federal Government apology to the Stolen Generations and reparations for their suffering and loss.
"Sorry Day is different this year - Prime Minister Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generations on 13 February 2008 means we will be celebrating a new beginning in relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians," said Gill Watson, ENIAR Coordinator, London.
"We gauge that the resounding feeling surrounding Sorry Day 2008 is one of celebration, hope and forward-thinking. We want to join the celebrations in support and recognition of the achievement so far. Although there is much work to do - for example the fight for full and proper compensation will continue - we think the apology itself is worth taking time out to celebrate.
"The impact of the apology should not be underestimated - the goodwill and momentum generated will stand Australia in good stead to achieve the aims of the Closing the Gap campaign and equality of life opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
"We invite all UK-based supporters of Indigenous Australian rights to join with us to remember the stolen generations, recognise their suffering and survival, and celebrate the achievement of the apology," concluded Ms Watson.
Thursday 22nd May 2008, 7 - 9pm.
Drinks & nibbles from 6.30pm
Conway Hall
25 Red Lion Square
London WC1 (nearest tube: Holborn)
The event is free and drinks and nibbles will be provided. For catering purposes it would be helpful if people could indicate their planned attendance by emailing info@eniar.org.
Program
6.30 - 7pm: Drinks & nibbles in foyer
7pm: Welcome and summary of event program
7.15 - 7.45pm: Screening of The Apology
7.45 - 8pm: John Bond, former Secretary of the National Sorry Day Committee and member of the Stolen Generations Alliance will speak on the topic "From 'Bringing Them Home' to the Prime Minister's apology: how 'Sorry' stayed on the national agenda".
8 - 8.15pm: Tiffany McComsey, former non-indigenous co-chair of the National Sorry Day Committee and member of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) will speak on the topic of some initiatives that are taking place more locally at State level in Australia.
8.15 - 8.30pm: Rikki Shields, Indigenous Australian writer and poet living in London, will speak on the use of thalidomide on Aboriginal people as a test for leprosy treatment.
8.30 - 8.45pm: Questions to the speakers
8.45 - 9.30pm: Attendees can circulate & chat informally with each other, the speakers and event organisers. There will also be an information display and an opportunity to sign ENIAR's Sorry Book.
9.30pm: Sorry Day London closes.
The Apology
A special documentary produced for Reconciliation Australia by Indigenous Film Services to remind and refresh Australians about how it feels to heal and to see things can be better between us.
The Apology has been produced in time for NRW 2008 (27 May - 3 June) with a grant from the Department of Families, Communities, Housing and Indigenous Affairs. It is narrated by Jack Thompson with music from Reconciliation Australia's friends, Powderfinger, Silverchair, Missy Higgins, John Butler and the Stiff Gins. It features behind-the-scenes footage from the two days leading up to the apology, and the event itself.
The Apology runs for 30 minutes.
