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key indigenous australian issues
| home | news lBeloved AustraliansWith people of goodwill all over the world, I want to congratulate you as a people for the unequivocal apology to indigenous Australians made today in your national parliament by your Prime Minister.Of course Apology does not take away the truth of the wrong that was done and the pain that continues to be felt through the generations by indigenous Australians. Nevertheless there is no doubt that this representative acknowledgment and "saying sorry" can be balm in the wounds, a major step and a turning point on the long journey towards restorative justice and healing for all Australians. Over the years I have heard many of you speak about your own sense of guilt and shame about what happened in your country's history and the refusal of your previous Prime Minister to say sorry. Many of you have told me that you were ashamed to be Australians because of what has been done to indigenous people and to asylum seekers. Today I am sure that many of you shed tears of joy that finally the day has come in a dignified way to squarely face the horror of what happened and to travel a new journey together. All of here at the Institute are filled with renewed hope for the human family because of what happened in Australia today. We appreciate the privilege we have had to listen to your stories and we wish you well as you strive together to close the gaps. Please accept a loving embrace to you all, the ancient peoples of the land, and those who arrived more recently, all Australians Michael Lapsley,SSM Institute for Healing of Memories, Director Fr. Michael Lapsley, SSM 345 Lansdowne Road, Lansdowne 7780 Cape Town - South Africa ph: +27-(0)21-696-4230 fx: +27-(0)21-696-8561 email: healing@mindspring.co.za http://www.healingofmemories.co.za
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its one year on from the Australian Governments controversial intervention into NT Indigenous communities
action Roll back, listen to Indigenous community voices speaking about the intervention |
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