20 Years On: The Road To Reconciliation Continues

26 May marks National Sorry Day. On this day Australians turn their minds to the terrible injustices suffered by First Nations peoples created by past government practices.

This Sorry Day marks 20 years since the Bringing Them Home Report. The report acknowledged the trauma, grief and loss suffered by the Stolen Generations.

The report found from 1910 to 1970, at least one in ten and as many as one in three Indigenous children were taken away from families and culture. These children were removed from their families and sent to live in institutions, church missions, or with other families.

Born out of one of the report’s original recommendations, the first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998. Every year on 26 May, the nation is given an opportunity to come together to reflect on the past, and look to the future of reconciliation.

Australians continue to mark Sorry Day by taking part in marches and events in reflection and reconciliation.

On Sunday 28 May 2000, a crowd of over 250,000 people marched together for the Corroboree 2000 Bridge Walk. The walk took place across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of reconciliation. This was a significant moment for members of the Stolen Generations and their families, but also for Australia as a whole.

For the 20th anniversary of the Bringing Them Home Report, the Healing Foundation has released a review of the recommendations and initial intent of the report. This will spark a conversation on what the next steps should be.