The Healing Foundation - Celebration National Apology

A message from the Chairperson of Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation: Dr. Mark Bin Bakar

"Today is a day of remembrance.
A day of truth.
A day of healing.
And a day of strength.

But before we acknowledge the significance of the Apology, we must first acknowledge the deep sadness that sits with us as a community.

Very recently, we farewelled Uncle Sam Lovell a respected Elder whose life journey reflected both the pain and the strength of our people. His funeral was a powerful reminder of the generations who carried their suffering quietly, yet walked with dignity and resilience.

We have also lost Uncle Johnny Ross, a Stolen Generations man and a Director of Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation. His passing came as a great shock to us all.

As a community, we are poorer for the loss of these two dear gentlemen. I extend our love, respect and heartfelt condolences to their partners, families and loved ones.

We are also mindful that our numbers are thinning. We continue to lose Stolen Generations Elders, women and men such as Aunty Gerty Thomas, Aunty Ida Moore, and many others who have passed recently and over the years.

Each loss is heavy.
Each loss is personal.
Each loss takes with it a lifetime of stories, survival and truth.

Yet we carry on, not because it is easy, but because we must.
We persevere in their memory and in the clear mandate of our organisation:
never to allow the life journeys of Stolen Generations members to be forgotten.

Despite the grief we carry, Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation remains strong, present and relevant. Deeply embedded in the Kimberley community and within the wider Kimberley family.

This year marks another profound milestone for our organisation.
Alongside the Apology anniversary, KSGAC is celebrating 25 years.

Twenty-five years of struggle.
Twenty-five years of resistance.
Twenty-five years of healing work, often with limited resources but unlimited determination.

From where we started, to where we now stand, we have grown into a nationally recognised organisation with the strength, credibility and courage to speak our truth and stand our ground.

The work we do today is reflected in the programs and services we deliver. We do not discriminate against anyone who comes to us seeking support. We do our best for all, because we know this truth. We are all descendants and victims of a racist government system that controlled, regulated and harmed our people, particularly our Elders.

There will be more announcements and activities shared in the coming months, and as part of our 25th anniversary year, we intend to honour the past while shaping a stronger future. This is a year where we intend to make a statement.

Today, I invite you to take time to enjoy the artists, the food, the stories and the gathering itself — because coming together like this is an act of healing.

While the Apology was long overdue, we acknowledge with gratitude former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who delivered the National Apology on 13 February 2008, against all odds.

That Apology, delivered in the Australian Parliament, formally acknowledged the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, and the deep grief, suffering and intergenerational trauma caused by past government policies.

For many of our people, the Apology did not erase the pain, but it validated the truth. It said to our Elders: we hear you, we believe you, and what happened to you was wrong.

As Aboriginal people of this land, we have been victimised since colonisation. Yet we remain here. We endure. We adapt. We survive. And more than that, we continue to forgive, despite the hurt, the loss and the injustice.

That capacity to forgive, while still demanding truth and justice, is our strength.
It is our resilience.
It is our gift.

So today, as we stand together, let us honour our Elders, remember the stolen children, and celebrate our identity, our survival and our capacity to keep moving forward together.

On behalf of the KSGAC Board and all our staff, thank you for being here. Enjoy this day. Hold each other close. And never forget.

Finally, I want to acknowledge our extraordinary staff, who go above and beyond every day, carrying heavy stories, supporting our people, and always placing the needs of our clients and community first.  Last year was an extremely difficult time for our staff as we lost and said goodbye to Willie, a very valued member of our staff who we lost tragically. The ripples of this loss still affect our staff, board, members and especially our clients.  He was one in a million and his infectious laugh has left a huge hole in our Stolen Gen Family.

Thank you all.
And thank you for walking this journey with us."

We welcome you to share your photographs from this day to our email: reception@ksgac.com.au