We are sharing a part of our journey during this years Sorry Day commemorations and Reconciliation Week 2020.

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Firstly, thank you to all the wonderful Elders nears and far, from East to West, North to South. We Acknowledge and pay respect to each and everyone of you. Thank you for leading the way, thank you for your wisdom, your teachings, bravery and your courage.

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Over the past six months and more, we have had amazing people who have been working alongside us at COOEE and in community to help bring about change. To help teach about the true history of this beautiful sacred country we call home, Australia.

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We would like to acknowledge and thank Chris Baggerley for her time and support  in helping to bring about change; Chris is a non-Indigenous lady but has a passion to help teach about true history of the First Nations people of this country.

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We would like to also acknowledge Coral Vass and Dub Leffler of the Bigambul people, authors of the book Sorry Day written in 2018; this book is not only an account of Australian history, it is truth-telling.

We thank Coral Vass and Dub Leffler for this significant book for teaching the true history of this country, the Stolen Generations.

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As stated 'in that one powerful word, 'sorry', there is hope - hope that what has been would never be again. Sorry Day is the history of all of us, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. These conversations are not easy to have, they are uncomfortable to have, but they are essential to have. For it is only in acknowledging past wrongs that forgiveness is facilitated, healing can begin and reconciliation can be achieved in our nation'.

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Chris Baggarley was asked to be a guest speaker (speaking from a non-Indigenous perspective) at our Sorry Day event, which ended up being a virtual event - our very first .

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Chris shares the importance of National Sorry Day through the eyes of her grandchildren by reading the significant children's book Sorry Day by Coral Vass and Dub Leffler .

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As part of Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week, Chris started a project by creating a mural with footprints from Elders, young people, older people, family members, students and community members - First Nations peoples and Non-Indigenous people.

The footprints from each individual sharing a journey of bringing change through understanding, truth telling, acknowledging the wrongs and bringing hope for each of us to walk together in Unity - it's the truth telling that will help bring healing and unity for all.

Thank you Chris from all of our team at COOEE.

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The First Nations people of this country have a right for their true history to be told, in telling the truth of the past and acknowledging the atrocities of what happened and the trauma that still happens today - in truth telling, comes healing.

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Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that should happen every day, it reminds us that while generations of Australians have fought for meaningful change, future gains are likely to take just as much, if not more effort -

 

It's time to get it right!