Myths about Aboriginal people: Myth 1: “I don’t have anything to apologise for and Aboriginal people should just get over it.” Fact: Since colonisation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have had many wrongs and abuses committed against them. For generations Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were removed from their families, denied citizenship rights in their own country, banned from travelling freely, punished for speaking their languages and denied access to education and health care. These events didn’t happen that long ago and the multiple effects of these traumas continue to play out in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today. The Apology from the Australian Government was an acknowledgement that the First Australians had suffered from unspeakable tragedies, had profound grief, suffering and loss inflicted upon them, and that they were owed a heartfelt apology from the people that had dispossessed them. Without laying blame or guilt at the feet of current Australians, the Apology was an important moment of acknowledgement, healing and reconciliation. The Productivity Commission undertakes regular reports on the impact of government policies and programs on First Australians.The 2014 report shows some positive trends in the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, but there is still more to be done. ow.ly/Evmi5
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 09:00:36 +0000
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