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Sorry Day UK Victoria Embankment Gardens, London 25 May 2007
photos courtesy Catherine Dubois

The third UK Sorry Day took place from 6 - 8 pm in London on Friday 25 May 2007. As it opened, people were sunning themselves in deckchairs in Victoria Embankment Gardens. By the end they were shivering in a cold wind off the river Thames, but the stage was bright with Aboriginal and Torres strait flags and artworks and the spirit of the event was warm.

Organised by ENIAR the event's aims were to raise awareness of the Stolen Generations and other issues impacting Indigenous peoples, to celebrate Indigenous Australian culture and achievement and to provide an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in UK to meet.

This year, the event took the form of an Indigenous perspective of Australian history from creation to the present journey of healing.  With backing from 3 didgeridoo players, Francis Firebrace told the creation story   followed by a dialogue with Master of Ceremonies Chris Robinson and Yirrayaakin's Sam Cook on Indigenous society pre and post invasion. Speakers including Tristram Besterman outlined the impact of stolen land, Stolen Generations, stolen wages, stolen bodies and attempted genocide of people and culture. At the request of Bob Randall, Joanna Lathan sang Brown Skinned Baby  (which left  many Indigenous and non Indigenous people in tears) and Brigitte Anderssen and Kay Walton sang songs they had composed.

About 150 - 200 people saw all or part of the event.  Many of them admitted afterwards(some with surprise) how much they had learned form the wide range of  the performers.

galleries ours + others

eniar galleries

eniar public meeting london 2006

• aboriginal tent embassy delegation - dover 2001
• aboriginal tent embassy delegation - london 2001
• australia week in london protests - london 2000
• dreamtraces exhibition - brighton 2001
• fitzroy crossing artists at hossacks gallery - london 1998
• long walk - london 2005
• mirrar delegation - london 1998
• rabbit proof fence - talk by author doris pilkington garimara - london 2002
• sea of hands - london 2000
• sorry book - london 1998
• sorry day uk - london 2005
• sorry day uk - london 2006
• sorry day uk - london 2007
• time for a treaty - london 1998
• volunteers - 1998 onwards
  
  

other galleries hosted on eniar site

• australia day 2007 on palm island - photos by descendence
• burunga festival - photos by wayne quillam

links to external galleries

• Gary Foley's koori history website
  The legendary activist has compiled a extensive photo history of the struggle for rights for Aboriginal people.
• Julie Gough's website
  Julie's work on 'time and space' 'unresolved histories' memory and place' race representation' and other works. All works include artists statement about the work.
• Wayne Quilliam portfolio 1
  Wayne Quilliam portfolio 2
  Aboriginal photographer who has exhibited in Europe:'My work reflects the diversity of Indigenous culture. Australian Aboriginal people have close ties with the land and its inhabitants. This relationship is obvious through past and present artistic practices including dance, sculpture and painting. Photography is the medium I chose to express my cultural identity.'
• Picture Australia
  Excellent source for archive images.

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