Saying Sorry to the Stolen Generations

The 26^th of May is National Sorry Day, a time to reflect on the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians throughout the country’s history.

The term “Stolen Generations” refers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who were forcibly removed, as children, from their families by government, welfare or church authorities and placed into institutional care or with non-Indigenous foster families. The forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children began as early as the mid-1800s and continued until the 1970s.

The first Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998—exactly one year after the Bringing Them Home Report was presented to the Parliament. The Bringing Them Home Report was the result of an inquiry into the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, and recommended both an apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and reparations.

In the Fair Trade WA Oxfam Group Shop, we support a number of enterprises that aim to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

 

Come into the shop to see our range of sauces, jams and seasonings by Outback Pride, or the handmade Murrorong Aboriginal Jewellery.