National Sorry Day facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Sorry Day |
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2016 National Sorry Day event in Brisbane
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| Also called | National Day of Healing |
| Observed by |  Australia |
| Type | Cultural |
| Significance | Commemoration of the Stolen Generations |
| Date | 26 May |
| Next time | 26 May 2024 |
| Frequency | Annually |
| First time | 26 May 1998 |
National Sorry Day, also known as the National Day of Healing, is an important event held every year in Australia on 26 May. It's a day to remember and think about the difficult past when many Indigenous children were sadly taken away from their families. This day is part of a bigger effort called reconciliation, which aims to bring Indigenous Australians and other Australians closer together. It's about healing from past wrongs and building a better future for everyone.
The first National Sorry Day happened in 1998. This was one year after a very important report called Bringing Them Home was released. This report suggested that a formal apology should be given to the Stolen Generations. While the Prime Minister at the time, John Howard, didn't give an apology, Kevin Rudd did so on February 13, 2008. He gave a formal apology on behalf of the government and all Australians.
Contents
Understanding the Bringing Them Home Report
The Bringing Them Home report is a very important document. It was created after a big investigation into how the government treated Aboriginal children during the 1900s. The report looked at policies that caused Indigenous children to be separated from their families. The goal of these policies was to make them live like white Australians, which meant they lost their connection to their own culture and families.
What were the Stolen Generations?
Because of these policies, many Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes. These children are now known as the "Stolen Generations". This was a very sad and traumatic experience for them and their families. The effects of these removals are still felt by many generations today.
The report made 54 suggestions to help fix these problems. It said that governments should formally apologize. It also suggested that money should be given to help people deal with the pain and consequences of these past policies. The report also pointed out that even today, some Indigenous young people are still separated from their communities through different systems.
The History of Sorry Day
Before Sorry Day, there was an older protest day called the Day of Mourning. This day started in 1938 and focused on getting civil rights for Aboriginal people.
The First Sorry Day
On May 26, 1997, the Bringing Them Home report was officially presented to the Australian Parliament. One of its main suggestions was for the Prime Minister to apologize to the Stolen Generations. However, Prime Minister John Howard chose not to apologize. He said he didn't agree with a "black armband view of history," which meant he didn't want to focus on the negative parts of Australia's past.
The government's policy of taking children from their families was later described as trying to turn them into "white Australians."
The first National Sorry Day was held on May 26, 1998. It was a day for people to remember and reflect.
Steps Towards an Apology
On August 26, 1999, Prime Minister John Howard made a Motion of Reconciliation. In this motion, he expressed "deep and sincere regret" for the injustices Indigenous Australians faced in the past. He also acknowledged the hurt and trauma that many Indigenous people still feel. The leader of the opposition, Kim Beazley, tried to get a full, unreserved apology instead, but it didn't happen at that time.
The yearly Sorry Day events aim to help politicians, decision-makers, and everyone else understand the policies that led to children being taken. They also highlight the lasting impact these policies had on the children, their families, and their communities.
The Bridge Walk for Reconciliation
On May 28, 2000, something amazing happened. More than 250,000 people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, walked together across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. This walk was organized by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation. It was a protest against the lack of a government apology and a way to show support and raise public awareness about the issue.
National Day of Healing
In 2005, the National Sorry Day Committee decided to rename the day the National Day of Healing. Senator Aden Ridgeway suggested this change in Parliament. He explained that the day should focus on the healing needed across Australian society to achieve true reconciliation.
The Formal Apology
Finally, on February 13, 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd gave a formal apology to Indigenous Australians. This apology was made on behalf of all past parliaments and governments whose policies caused "profound grief, suffering and loss" to Indigenous Australians.
This apology was the very first thing the new parliament did. Kevin Rudd became the first Australian Prime Minister to publicly apologize to the Stolen Generations on behalf of the federal government. Both houses of parliament passed the apology unanimously. Thousands of people gathered in Canberra and across the country to hear it. There were tears, cheers, and clapping as people reacted to this historic moment.
Close the Gap: Working for Health Equality
Close the Gap (CTG) is an important social justice campaign. It focuses on improving the health of Indigenous Australians. Many Indigenous and non-Indigenous health groups, charities, and human rights organizations work together for this cause. Their goal is to achieve equal health outcomes for everyone in Australia.
The campaign was started in April 2007 by famous athletes Catherine Freeman and Ian Thorpe.
Government's Role in Closing the Gap
The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, adopted the goals of Close the Gap in 2008. This became known as the Closing the Gap strategy. Since 2009, the government has promised to give a yearly report to Parliament on how well they are doing with this strategy.
National Close the Gap Day (NCTGD) was run by Oxfam Australia for ten years, starting in 2009. This day brought together hundreds of thousands of people across Australia to support Indigenous health equality. In 2019, ANTaR took over running the day.
As of 2020, the Close the Gap campaign has produced 11 reports, including a big review in 2018 that looked back at ten years of progress.
See also
- Day of Mourning (Australia), 26 January 1938
- Harmony Day
- Mabo Day
- NAIDOC Week
- National Reconciliation Week
- Reconciliation Australia
- Reconciliation in Australia
- 1967 Australian referendum (Aboriginals)
Other countries
- I Apologize campaign, a grassroots initiative in Turkey
- Native American Day
- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Canada
