1. WELCOME TO COUNTRY ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO THOSE OF THE STOLEN GENERATIONS. I would like to begin by acknowledging the Darug people the traditional custodians of this land. I would also like to pay my respects to the elders, both past and present, and extend that respect to other indigenous guests present.

2. KAREN, GHIDA, AND GABRIELLE. Sorry Day Project

3. Introduction into the Stolen Generation The stolen generation is identified as a generation of Aboriginal children whose lives were destroyed, because they were taken away from their families by the Australian Governments policy, (The Assimilation Policy 1909). The people involved in this, included churches and welfare bodies who created institutions and put the Aboriginal children in them and these children were also forced to be fostered out to non-Indigenous (white) families. The removal of Aboriginal children from their families was conducted officially by these government funded bodies until 1969. These practices began in the earliest days of Brittish Invasion in Australia, the Aboriginal children were removed to provide cheap labour and they were used as guides, domestic servants and farm labours. The establishment of the Aborigines Protection Broad, was the overseer contributing to the dislocation of many Aboriginal people as they were taken away from their traditional lands then later segregated onto reserves, missions and stations. The Aboriginal Protection Board Act, directed government legislation that gave the authorises the power to legally take Aboriginal children away from their families and by 1905, the act unfortunately had been given the broad power to forcibly remove any Aboriginal child without having any parental consent and without a Court Order.

4. Recognition to the Darug nation of Blacktown The land has been occupied by the Darug tribe for over 30,000 years. Largest aboriginal population in the state. April 20 th 1770 captain James Cook claims possession of the whole east coast of Australia for the British crown. 1788: Exploration party lead BY Arthur Phillip became the first non-indigenous people to see the area of Blacktown, Phillip then settled 11 convicts in the area, a few years later only 6 remained (lack of farming experience, etc…) 1 st European settlement occurred at the base of prospect Hill in August 1791 Lands were divided and distributed and given to different institutions from schools, churches, farms, etc… After WWI many soldiers were settles on farms in the district Prior to that, the Darug nation was made up of 38 clans that occupied 1800 square kilometres of land. If members of 1 clan wanted to cross over to another tribe’s land they had to announce the season of their visit and why. The descendants of the Darug tribe don’t have any men or women who are initiated, which leaves them unable to fully connect with their mother language, preventing them from really understanding the chants they sing or really understand and connect with the magic and complexity behind these incantations. These people also don’t have traditional dances to go with their story telling, however, this fact doesn’t stop them from singing and holding ceremonies in the honour of the old spirits they sing of. It is important to note the importance of spirituality to the aboriginal culture and how the history of colonialism that this tribe and people has known, resulted in a detachment from culture and spirituality. Ex: the fact that they cannot access the realm of spirits without an initiated person to guide them.

5. Consequences reflecting Stolen Generations As regards to the impact of forcible removal practices on the first nation Australians, this has impacted on them both individually and collectively, and the destruction is immeasurable. Most Aboriginal families have been affected by the force of removal of one or more of their children, this goes across generations and this, has in turn, left a major negative impact on the cohesion of many Indigenous Australian communities. The suffering children, had been told that they either were rejected by their parents, or that their parents had been worthless, or were even dead. Removal of children meant most often, that the family members were unable to keep in touch with their children and this in turn brought about catastrophic grief and loss for them. The ideology behind the “assimilation” process, was founded on the assumption and the belief in black inferiority and that of white superiority. This proposed, that Indigenous people should be allowed to “die out” as a race, though their elimination and therefore in order to “breed out” the black skin, by assimilating Aboriginal children into the white community. The children that were taken away from their parents and families experienced a sense of rejection, non acceptance and racism by whites, which has resulted in a dislocation and a loss and grieving of their families and a loss of culture and their cultural heritage. The children were often adopted into white families and many other children were relocated into institutions, that did abuse and neglect these children which is confirmed and told commonly now though the stories. Aboriginal girls were forced to marry white men and have babies to ensure there were babies identified to be “half caste” children. A percentage of half Aboriginal and white, this was a very vulnerable period of time when the removal process happened as the government thought it would be easy to make changes into forcing Aboriginal children into white community by lightening the skin of these “stolen children”.

6. Invasion, forced removals and other past Australian government policies have resulted in trauma and grief for many ATSI people across generations and many have spoken of the ongoing pain they feel as a result of past government practices. The forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) children from their families and communities as a result of policies disconnected them from their Indigenous culture. For many of these children, removal meant that they lost all connection to family, traditional land, culture and languages and were taken to homes and institutions where they were often abused, neglected and unloved. This negative treatment has had a negative effect on the wellbeing and identity of members of the Stolen Generations and has had an intergenerational impact on the wider Indigenous community. Cultural Separation The real effect of saying “sorry’, referring to dominant groups admitting and accepting the fact that they are privileged in comparison to the Aboriginal community who is considered a target group

7. Experiences of the Stolen Generation Up in the Sky 1, from the series “up in the Sky” 1997, Tracey Moffatt.

8. Political shift, Kevin Rudd Apology the word 'sorry' [is] not about monetary compensation or damages, nor about today's Australians taking personal responsibility [for past events], but about acknowledging that wrong was done and expressing sorrow about it. – Final report of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, 2000 Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (R) hugs members of the Stolen Generation after delivering an official apology to Aboriginal Australians inside Parliament House in Canberra February 13, 2008.

9. SORRY DAY (MAY 26 TH ) IS A DAY SET ASIDE FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS TO EXPRESS REGRET OVER THE HISTORICAL TREATMENT OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER (ATSI) PEOPLE. THE IDEA OF HOLDING A SORRY DAY WAS FIRST MENTIONED AS ONE OF THE 54 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BRINGING THEM HOME REPORT. THIS REPORT WAS THE RESULT OF A TWO YEAR NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO THE FORCIBLE REMOVAL OF INDIGENOUS CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND CULTURAL IDENTITIES. THIS REPORT SHED LIGHT ON THE HISTORY OF FORCED REMOVAL POLICIES OF PAST AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTS AND THEIR DEVASTATING IMPACT OF ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES AND CULTURE. MAY 26 TH WAS CHOSEN IN COMMEMORATION OF THE BRINGING THEM HOME REPORT BEING HANDED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON MAY 26 TH 1997. ON MAY 26 TH 1998, THE FIRST “SORRY DAY” WAS HELD IN SYDNEY AND IT HAS NOW BECOME AN ANNUAL EVENT. A NATIONAL SORRY DAY IS A NECESSARY STEP IN ACKNOWLEDGING THE IMPACT OF THE MISTREATMENT AND THE CURRENT DISADVANTAGES THAT THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY CURRENTLY FACES. National Sorry Day 2016

10. Art Therapy aids Trauma Recovery though Healing Indigenous Australian Women, Mount Isa Queensland 2010. This is the ancient story of the Milky Way and the Seven Sisters (Pleiades). This Dreaming was inherited by Gabriella from her mother, handed down to her from her paternal grandmother, Long Rose, given to Gabriella by her father. -Gabriella Possum Nungurrayi.

11. IN NARRATIVE THERAPY AN OUTSIDER WITNESS IS AN INVITED AUDIENCE TO A THERAPY CONVERSATION. THEY ARE INVITED TO LISTEN AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PREFERRED STORIES AND IDENTITY CLAIMS OF THE PERSON CONSULTING THE THERAPIST. WHEN THERE IS A TEAM WORKING PARTICULARLY, MEMBERS OF THE TEAM HELP EACH OTHER IN MAKING THEIR REFLECTION HAVING SOMEONE REFLECT BACK, ASK A QUESTION OR JUTS NOD AS THEY ARE LISTENING IS ENOUGH TO MAKE THE WHOLE PROCESS A LOT MORE MEANINGFUL. SO THAT’S BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH THE PERSON SHARING THE STORY AND ANYONE ELSE LISTENING AND WITNESSING AS THIS PROCESS BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, GIVES MORE VALUE TO THEIR STORIES AND THE CONNECTIONS BEING MADE DURING THIS “CEREMONY’’. Witnessing; Art Therapy binary of stories though Narrative Therapy

12. Indigenous Australian Culture and Art Art is defined through Aboriginal life as a central part and it’s intimately connected to the land, law and spiritual beliefs. A connection to a person’s home land is deeply felt. Mick Dodson has expressed powerfully: (Former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Commissioner) “To understand our law, our culture and our relationship to the physical and spiritual world, you must begin with land. Everything about Aboriginal society is inextricably woven with, and connected to, land. Culture is the land, the land and spirituality of Aboriginal people, our cultural beliefs or reason for existence is to the land. You take that away, our reason for existence is taken away. We have grown up with the land. We have danced, singed, and painting for the land. We are celebrating the land. Removing us from our lands, we are literally removed from ourselves.” Carol Maayatja Golding, Warlu Tjukurrpa

13. Art and the healing process By creating art, people can express the hurt and pain they carry and create something that is special and meaningful to them, whether that is through the use of materiality such as drawing, painting, sculptures, etc. Art therapy can assist Indigenous community to heal by connecting them to their cultural identity as they learn, apply the traditional ways of life, spiritual beliefs & values through various art forms.

14. OUR VISION AND PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE A PROFESSIONAL, AFFORDABLE AND A HOLISTIC SERVICE FOR WOMEN BASED ON FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY AND WE DELIVER A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PROMOTING HEALTH, WELLBEING AND EMPOWERMENT FOR ALL WOMEN. AS BEING A NON-FOR-PROFIT WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE, WE OFFER A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING, THOUGH TO MANAGING, SUPPORTING WOMEN AND GIRLS TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR OWN HEALTH AND WELLBEING. WE ARE FUNDED ALMOST ENTIRELY BY THE NSW DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WE ARE INCORPORATED ASSOCIATION MANAGED BY A COMMITTEE MADE UP OF WOMEN WHO WORK OR LIVE IN THE BLACKTOWN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA. WE OPERATE WITH A SOCIAL VIEW OF HEALTH AND PROVIDE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALTH CARE WHERE THE “WHOLE WOMAN” AND HER LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT. Blacktown Women's and Girls’ centre's mission statement

15. Why we are participating? Allowing community elders to educate and inspire positive change in their communities. Participating in National Sorry Day helps to bring people together in a shared vision of unity to address the social disadvantages of the Indigenous community and achieve social justice for all Australians. Grieving Mother, “where’s my baby gone” 2015, National Sorry Day.

16. ENCOURAGES COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN GROUP ACTIVITY. BY CREATING ART, PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO INCREASE THEIR AWARENESS OF THEMSELVES AND OTHERS AND ARE ABLE TO ENHANCE THEIR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INCREASING THEIR COGNITIVE FUNCTION AND THEIR COPING AND SOCIAL SKILLS. IN THIS WAY, PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO HEAL FROM THEIR TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES AND LEARN TO COME TOGETHER TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF SOCIAL PARTICIPATION. IN THIS WAY, ART THERAPY PROVIDES A HOLISTIC HEALING EXPERIENCE OF SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING. Engagement and active participation in our community

17. THE ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER POPULATION IN BLACKTOWN WHERE APPROXIMATELY THERE IS 8,200 ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN BLACKTOWN LGA, WERE IT’S THE LARGEST URBAN ABORIGINAL POPULATION THAT’S IN WESTERN SYDNEY AND NSW. THIS TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THAT APPROXIMATELY OF 2.7% OF THE TOTAL ABORIGINAL POPULATION AND THAT IS ALMOST SEEN TO BE DOUBLE THAT OF THE GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY (1.4%). OVER HALF THE ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER POPULATION RESIDES IN BLACKTOWN SOUTH-WEST, HAS APPROXIMATELY 4,611 ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER RESIDENTS ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE SUFFER FROM POORER OUTCOMES THAN NON-INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS IN MANY AREAS. BLACKTOWN CITY LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA HAS THE LARGEST URBAN ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER POPULATION IN NSW WITH 8,195 PEOPLE MAKING UP 2.7% OF THE POPULATION (1.2% GREATER SYDNEY AND 2.5% NSW). Blacktown LGA having the largest Indigenous Australian population

18. Visions for the future Include different community organisations, non-government organisations, government departments and so on that are focused on helping Indigenous people and also events such as NAIDOC week and things like link-up and the bridging the gap/closing the gap program and other government and non-government initiatives and legislations. On February 13, 2009, the first anniversary of the Kevin Rudd’s apology, the Australian Government announced its intention to establish a Healing Foundation to address trauma and aid healing in Indigenous communities, with a particular focus on the Stolen Generations. $26.6 million over four years was allocated in the 2009-2010, Budget to establish the Healing Foundation, which was incorporated in October 2009. Since this time, the Healing Foundation has provided funding and support to various community- driven ATSI healing initiatives, and has been working to promote public awareness of healing issues. The Foundation will also conduct education and training initiatives, and engage in research and evaluation to investigate best practice in healing initiatives. The Healing Foundation, 2005. http://healingfoundation.org.au/http://healingfoundation.org.au/

19. Partnerships with Blacktown Council and why Health and life expectations quality (ex: close the gap) Aim: to close the gap through IMPLEMENTATION of a human rights based approach set out in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander commissioner’s social justice report 2005. Creation of a generational Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality plan Emergence of representatives in Australian government. Evidence based path to achieving the goals Importance of rights to distinct status and culture: which strengthens one’s identity and spiritual and cultural practices (ex: 2012 Blacktown wasn’t recognised as belonging to the Aboriginal people and the Darug Tribe) Rights to self determination & Rights to the land

20. Blacktown City Council Image

21. Sorry Day 2016

22. Upcoming Events 2016 Homeground Sydney (April) Message stick: an annual multi-arts held at the Sydney Opera House, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists NAIDOC Week (July) -NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievement of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Correboree Sydney (November) Correbore Sydney is an annual Sydney festival that combines leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, writers, dances and musicians as they showcase their unique talents and flair Guringai Festival (May) Aims to raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people living in the Northern Sydney Region, it includes art exhibitions, films, performances, environmental walks and workshops across Sydney (A day before Sorry Day, 26 th of May) and the second week of sorry day in July of each year Indigenous Market Day (First Sunday of each mouth) - It starts at 9.30-3.30pm at Bare Island, La Perouse Sydney. The Market holds various workshops (weaving etc.), stalls, dances and performances.

23. AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. (2016). TRACK THE HISTORY TIMELINE: THE STOLEN GENERATIONS. [ONLINE] AVAILABLE AT: HTTPS://WWW.HUMANRIGHTS.GOV.AU/TRACK-HISTORY- TIMELINE-STOLEN-GENERATIONS [ACCESSED 23 MAY 2016].HTTPS://WWW.HUMANRIGHTS.GOV.AU/TRACK-HISTORY- TIMELINE-STOLEN-GENERATIONS AUSTRALIANS TOGETHER. (2016). THE STOLEN GENERATIONS. [ONLINE] AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://WWW.AUSTRALIANSTOGETHER.ORG.AU/STORIES/DETAIL/THE-STOLEN-GENERATIONS [ACCESSED 22 MAY 2016]. HTTP://WWW.AUSTRALIANSTOGETHER.ORG.AU/STORIES/DETAIL/THE-STOLEN-GENERATIONS CLOSING THE GAP CLEARINGHOUSE (AIHW & AIFS) 2013. STRATEGIES AND PRACTICES FOR PROMOTING THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE. RESOURCE SHEET NO. 19. PRODUCED FOR THE CLOSING THE GAP CLEARINGHOUSE. CANBERRA: AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND WELFARE & MELBOURNE: AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF FAMILY STUDIES. GROWING OUR CHILDREN UP STRONG AND DEADLY: HEALING FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE. (2016). 1ST ED. [EBOOK] THE HEALING FOUNDATION. AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://HEALINGFOUNDATION.ORG.AU/WORDPRESS/WP- CONTENT/FILES_MF/1369185755GROWINGOURCHILDRENUPSINGLESFEB2013.PDF [ACCESSED 23 MAY 2016]. HTTP://HEALINGFOUNDATION.ORG.AU/WORDPRESS/WP- CONTENT/FILES_MF/1369185755GROWINGOURCHILDRENUPSINGLESFEB2013.PDF WARE V-A 2014. SUPPORTING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES THROUGH ARTS PROGRAMS. RESOURCE SHEET NO. 28. PRODUCED FOR THE CLOSING THE GAP CLEARINGHOUSE. CANBERRA: AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF HEALTH AND WELFARE & MELBOURNE: AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF FAMILY STUDIES. WILSON, R. (1997) BRINGING THEM HOME: REPORT OF THE NATIONAL INQUIRY INTO THE SEPARATION OF ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES, HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, SYDNEY. AUDREY COUNTY (POSTED ON NOVEMBER 11, 2014) ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES CALL FOR A STOP TO ‘ONGOING STOLEN GENERATIONS’ RETRIEVED FROM WORDPRESS.COM ON (ACCESSED 27 MAY 2016) References One:

24. Reference Two: Tracey Moffatt (1997), up in the sky from the series ‘’up in the sky’’, Ayers Rock, retrieved from emmakellydooz.wordpress.com on 27 May 2016 Kevin Rudd's 2008 Apology to the Stolen Generations retrieved from museumvictoria.com.au on 27 May 2016. Justin McManus, Apology to the Stolen Generation at Parliament House.13 February 2008. ‘’The Age’’ photograph retrieved on 27 May 2016. ‘’Lighting the sails’’-at the Sydney opera house Featured Events | National Reconciliation Week 2016 retrieved from http://www.reconciliation.org.au/ on 27 May 2016http://www.reconciliation.org.au/ ‘’Sorry Day and Week of Prayer for Reconciliation’’ retrieved from http://www.ceosyd.catholic.edu.au/ 27 May 2016http://www.ceosyd.catholic.edu.au/ Amanda Glasgow (2015) National Sorry Day 2015 Grieving Mother " Where's my baby gone?“ retrieved from www.flickr.com on 27 May 2016www.flickr.com Carol Maayatja Golding - Warlu Tjukurrpa. 2006 retrieved from artgallery.nsw.gov.au onartgallery.nsw.gov.au on on 27 May 2016. Gabriella POSSUM NUNGURRAYI (1998), Milky Way (Seven Sisters) Dreaming retrieved from http://www.aboriginaldream.com/ on 27 May 2016 http://www.aboriginaldream.com/ Aboriginal Art by Wall Art Prints retrieved from www.wallprints.com.au on 27 May 2016www.wallprints.com.au Cathy Freeman carrying the Australian Flag and Aboriginal flag after winning the 400 metre race at the Sydney Olympic Games. Image courtesy of Fairfax Syndication, retrieved from http://aiatsis.gov.au/ on 27 May 2016http://aiatsis.gov.au/ Shannon Powers photograph, retrieved from http://www.starobserver.com.au/ on 27 May 2016http://www.starobserver.com.au/