Coastal Dreaming
Wotomi Eora Noura, Hello people from this country. I hope you enjoy reading the second
edition of “Coastal Dreaming”. I am delighted to be writing another article for this great local
magazine. Since the last edition, there have been some national and local events that I would
like to highlight and bring into our readers’ knowledge!
On Monday 26th of May 2014, Australia once again commemorated National Sorry Day.
National Sorry Day is a day set aside to remember and consider the actions that took place
creating what has now been named the “Stolen Generations”. During this period in Australian
history, many Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families and traditional
Stuart McMinn
lands to be placed in the care of non-Aboriginal orphanages and religious missions.
Some children were given to non-Aboriginal
families to be used as domestic servants. Many
were never to be reunited with their family
nor have any further links to their Aboriginal
heritage. This took place under the orders
and instructions of the “Aborigines Protection
Board”.
One was that compensation should be paid as
part of comprehensive reparations to the Stolen
Generations. The report aroused a great deal of
public discussion as it suggested that governments
of the day should say sorry through a formal apology
to those who suffered under the forcible removal
policies. The report also recommended there be a
national ‘Sorry Day’ held each year.
On 26 May 1997, the Bringing Them Home
Report was tabled in the Federal Parliament.
As well as revealing a painful and previously
hidden chapter of Australia’s history,
the Report made a wide range of
recommendations.
This is not a day to apologise to Aboriginal
Australians; instead, it is a day that we as
Australians can remember the atrocities that took
place during this dark period of our history. Very
much like the way we remember our fallen Anzacs
and are sorry for what happened during the World
Wars. I would like to say that Australian
governments had learnt from the appalling actions
that took place during the “Stolen Generation”
however, in the Northern Territory more than 600
Aboriginal children have been removed from their
families and traditional homelands in the past year.
This is not something that is reported on the evening news nor is it something the government wants publicised. None the
less this is a truth that many Aboriginal families are suffering right now. We as Australians must not allow these
despicable actions to continue and should collectively fight against seeing another “Stolen Generation” becoming part of
Australian history.
Five Lands Walk
st
On a more positive note Saturday 21 of June saw yet another very successful 5 Lands Walk event come to fruition. The
event has been running for nine years and has grown to be a brilliant and vibrant festivity. I was extremely proud to dance
as part of the Copacabana celebrations with several cultural brothers who had travelled from many parts of the state.
Some men had travelled from as far as Coonabarabran, Dubbo, Queensland and Melbourne to dance with their coastal
brothers. To see these men come together to represent their spiritual and cultural beliefs was not only exciting but deeply
moving. The display of cultural strength and authenticity is inspiring and brings a new hope that Aboriginal culture
survives and will continue to survive the racist policies of past and present governments. The struggle is far from over. If
we stand united in reconciliation, we can ensure that these injustices cease and no longer shame Australia.
Yours in Reconciliation,
Werrima Yeppa
Stuart McMinn
Werrima Yeppa is a proud Aboriginal man from the Dharug and Waka Waka nations. He is a professional
Aboriginal cultural performer and has danced at international sporting events, in many overseas venues and
throughout Australia at num erous prestigious functions. He runs cultural awareness training, site tours and
workshops for businesses, schools and international organisations. He is the owner, principal songman and dancer
of Minning Minni Kaiwarrine cultural performance company.
Contact Werrima Yeppa (Stuart McMinn) on 0477 165 142 or [email protected]
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