Reconciliation+-+Leah

Leah Thorpe

Resources 1 – Non Indigenous Authors Schreiter, R. “Reconciliation as a New Paradigm of Mission”, // Sedos //, VOL 37, No 7/8 – July/August, pp.106-109. Cooke, D. “// The Getting of Wisdom //”, Good Weekend Saturday Age, March 26th, 2011.  Reconciliation is the process of restoration, resolution, compromise, understanding, union and bringing together. Reconciliation is a process that involves many aspects including truth-telling and sharing of stories, apologies, repentance, justice and forgivenes. As stated by Schreiter reconciliation is both a process and a goal. It is based on three central dimensions including truth-telling, a struggle for justice and working towards forgiveness. Reconciliation is a very contemporary issue within society today and one that is at the forefront of Government and public discussions both locally and nationally. So pertinent and prominent is this topic that a recent celebrity interview with Jack Thompson in the Good Weekend asked him about his view on reconciliation just as they asked about his favorite holiday destination, food and views of fame. It is becoming just as commonplace in discussions as love, sport and family. Resource 2 – Indigenous artist and spokesperson, Mary Darkie.  // Desert healing: a journey towards reconciliation // (2003) Alphington, Vic., Fraynework Multimedia. 305.89915 DES Abstract: Desert Healing tells the story of what took place when the people of the Kutjungka Region, South East Kimberley, gathered to recognise the deaths of their relatives in a massacre that occurred at Purrkuji (Sturt Creek Station) circa 1922. The community wanted to recognise this painful event which had burdened them for more than seventy years. National Sorry Day presented an opportune time for this to take place. This resource is for any group interested in issues of reconciliation and the healing of painful memories. It demonstrates clearly that while the events of the past cannot be undone, healing can indeed happen when people of goodwill work together.     In the DVD ‘Desert Healing’ it tells of the people of the Kutjungka Region in the South East Kimberley who gathered to recognise the deaths of relatives in a massacre that occurred at Sturt Creek Station in 1922. The non Indigenous people from the region were then given an opportunity to apologise for the atrocities that occurred at Sturt Creek Station and acknowledge the pain and agony caused. One of the Spokespersons on the DVD, a Walmajarri woman, Mary Darkie said it was a chance for others to hear and feel their pain. “By being able to break our silence and share our pain we can be healed and together we can move forward.” Resource 3 – National Apology, Kevin Rudd Rudd, K. // Apology To Australia’s Indigenous Peoples //, Wednesday 13 February, 2008 ** DVD format  ** // <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Apology to the Stolen Generations of Australia //<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> (2008) Sydney, ABC Commercial. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">305.89915 APO <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow','sans-serif';">Abstract: An apology in Federal Parliament on Wednesday 13 February 2008 to the stolen generations by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, was a defining moment in the nation's history. People came from around the country to be present at Parliament House for the historic apology and crowds gathered across the nation to mark the occasion with tears, cheers and emotional displays of relief, happiness and in some cases, anger. Presented by Tony Jones and Miriam Corowa, with expert analysis and reaction from members of Australia's Stolen Generations. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">2008 marked a momentous occasion in Australia’s history when the then serving Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd made a National Apology on behalf of all Australian’s to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples. In summary the apology acknowledged past injustices and mistreatment of Indigenous Australians and highlighted the need to move forward as a country. In particular the apology spoke of the removal of Aboriginal and Torre Straight Islander children from their families, community and country and said sorry for the pain, suffering and loss experienced during the years of forcible removal. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">The apology went on to speak of how these injustices would end and the country would focus on a fair future for all Australians. The main focus of the apology was the Government’s Bipartisan approach and commitment to closing the gap that exists between Non Indigenous and Indigenous Australians in a range of areas including education, life expectancy, housing health and employment. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%;">Resource 4 – Indigenous Author and Politician, Pat Dodson http://www.abc.net.au/news/audio/2008/02/13/2161436.htm Office of Stolen generation Assessor, Report of the Stolen Generations Assessor (2008) Department of Premier and Cabinet, Tasmania, p12. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Following this public apology by Prime Minister Rudd, Mr Pat Dodson was interviewed regarding his response as an Aboriginal Australian. Mr Dodson, hailed as Australia’s Father of Reconciliation, seemed positive the day after the National Apology took place. Dodson saw the apology as a chance to look forward to the future without losing site of our history. He claimed “Australia has finally acknowledged our hurt and pain and can move forward with joy, confidence and hope”. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Dodson saw the Bipartisan approach to Closing the Gap promise of Australian Governments a practical way of regressing an appalling gap that has existed for too long and showed confidence and trust that the Governments proposal would be achievable. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">One thing Dodson did not mention in the ABC radio interview, but later to media was the issue of monetary compensation for Indigenous Australians who were victims of the Stolen Generation. Despite this heavily discussed suggestion, to date, the only Australian state that has financially compensated it’s indigenous Australian resident is Tasmania. In 2008 it was reported that a total of 106 victims of the stolen generation were compensated. This included 84 victims who each received $58, 000 and 22 children of deceased victims who received $5000. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%;">Resource 5 – COAG Report <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Closing the Gap in Indigenous Life Outcomes, Council of Australian Governments (COAG), Western Australia, 2010. [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Despite no monetary compensation to individual victims of the Stolen Generation the Australian Governments have committed millions to the Closing the Gap initiatives. The Western Australin government alone has identified six key areas to be targeted over the coming years including early childhood, schooling, health, economic participation, healthy homes and family and community safety. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Examples of programs and both Indigenous / non Indigenous Organisations and community groups around the Kimberley demonstrate Western Australia’s movement to closing the Gap which is happening all around the country. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In education the support for the Clontarf Football Academies continues with an additional $5 million in funding over three years by providing places for another 800 Indigenous boys in the Academies and to establish eight new academies in towns such as Fitzroy Crossing. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">In the Health sector Sport and Recreation Participation projects are in place in the Kimberley to encourage healthy and active lifestyles. A grant of $311, 000 has been given to Garnduwa to deliver program in the Kimberley Region and the employment of staff based in Broome, Derby and Kununurra. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Economic Participation has included the Department of Corrective Services which has a commitment to 50 per cent Indigenous Employment across all occupational groups within the new West Kimberley Regional Prison. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Housing is also a priority and The Government of Western Australia is committed to addressing overcrowding, homelessness, poor housing conditions and severe housing shortages. This will include building up to 294 new houses and refurbishing up to 1,000 houses between 2009 and 2013. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%;">Resource 6 – Indigenous Artist Clifton Bieundurry [|http://bieundurry.wordpress.com] [|[[http://www.nirs.org.au]]] <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">One Indigenous artist that has taken the national apology and put it into action is Clifton Bieundurry. A Walmajarri man from the Central Kimberley, Clifton has become known both nationally and internationally for his art and music talents. Cliften says “We need to put words into action. I was sick of everyone talking about it. I had to show the European world that we exist and are decision makers in our own right. We have to show we have rights as human beings and that discrimination and injustices exist in our country and that wouldn’t be accepted in other societies.” One particular piece of clifton’s shows a spiral design which he claims represents the journey a human spirit takes through this world. Clifton has made an enormous impression on many people around the world as he travels with his art pieces that show images of reconciliation. He is enormously supported by the Australian Governement and celebreties including Hugh Jackman and wife Deborah Lee Furness and fashion photographer Russell James. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 200%;">Summary <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> Habel, N.C. Reconciliation//, searching for Australia’s soul //, Harper Collins, Sydney. 1999 p. 150-163 Tutu, D. no future without forgiveness, Rider, London. 1999 p. 206-230 Bird, Carmel (ed.) The Stolen Children: Their stories Random House: Sydney 1998, pp 42-55 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Reconciliation is about creating a bond, between Indigenous and non Indigenous persons. As outlined by Habel the bonding will only occur when we as non Indigenous Australian’s willingly listening to the stories of suffering and resistance, confess our shame and our pain, celebrate rites of healing and join together in a common struggle for justice. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Then there is the element of forgiveness. As stated by Tutu, without forgiveness there is no future. As stories are told throughout the ‘Bringing them home report’ and other stories are introduced such as those contained in Carmel Bird’s ‘// The Stolen Children: Their Stories //’, it becomes clear just how difficult the element of forgiveness is. Forgiveness is hard, it requires an amazing amount of strength and trust but it is necessary in the process of reconciliation and must be achieved in order to reach the goal of reconciliation.