The Stolen Generation Speech Analysis

Taking Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander children from their Families and put into government and church run institutions was a Government policy until the year 1969. The children were re-located from their freedom and homes in the bush with their families to live in dormitories where their hair was cut and they were dressed in clothes that the institution approved. There were many rules that the children had to obey. If they did not obey the rules then that would often lead to severe punishments. Children were often abused and the education that they received was very basic and children from the same family were separated into different institutions. Girls were trained to be Domestic servants, which then they would work in white people’s …show more content…
The apology was such a significant part of healing the Indigenous people because the Government told the truth about Australia’s ‘dark’ history publically and admitted to the wrongs of past governments so it is now possible to move forward into the future to right those wrongs. The day that Kevin Rudd made his apology speech, that was the beginning of a new chapter in Australia’s history. For the people that had been affected by the ‘Stolen Generations’ it was the start of a healing process and the healing for an entire nation. People now feel that there is a renewed energy to move forward with the spirit of forgiveness, friendship, and reconciliation, with a goal to close the gap of life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and addressing different social Justice Issues. The Aboriginal people feel that because the Australian Government has acknowledged the past and has paid respect towards those who were falsely treated, the Parliament has now laid down new foundations for healing to take place. For the victims of the ‘Stolen Generations’, the Apology Day was a day of celebration, tears, a sense of relief, and a sense of dignity to all of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The word ‘sorry’ is often used as a way of restoring respect. It was important for the non-Indigenous people to say sorry to the Indigenous because it is a way of working together to create a respectful relationship between the two and is important for healing the wounds made by the past government. The ‘silk flower’ is the emblem for the stolen generations and was created by Aboriginals from the Kimberley who were victims of the Stolen Generations. The ‘silk flower’ is a native hibiscus flower which is found throughout Australia. This flower is known as a ‘survivor’ and it represents compassion and