I was a young man during the times that these young people were being stolen from their parents, I am sorry that I was not aware of what was going on, I am ashamed of what my people did to your people and I am sorry that I did not do something to help stop this.

I am sorry that my European forebears in history did not comply with the religion that they held so preciously either for social or spiritual reasons. If they had, the meeting of cultures would have been of compassion and humbleness. What a different story that would have been.

For the hardships, the cultural dislocation and the intergenerational impacts experienced by so many Indigenous people of Australia, I am deeply sorry and regretful. May my work and my daily life contribute to an Australia where Indigenous communities are empowered and encouraged to look after their own children and stand strong and united.

On behalf of my Grandfather who bashed my Grandmother because she was black I am very sorry. It's a shame that my mother had to hide our heritage from us as children. Now she has passed on my family are at last willing to talk about our heritage, well some of them anyway.

I think our Indigenous Australians are an amazing group of people for having survived every injustice dumped on them since the "white invasion". I am sorry that in our "free" country, we have a government that won't apologise to them after attempting genocide.

On behalf of myself and my two daughters I would like to say sorry to the Indigenous people for what our predecessors did to your ancestors and hope that we can reconcile the past and have a happy future in harmony appreciating your cultural history and recognising it as our own Australian history.

I am sorry for indignities, hardships, inequities and dislocation of families that Indigenous Australians have suffered, and continue to suffer, as a result of European settlement, governmental and economic control of Australia. I hope that my role as an educator interested in social justice has made some impact on students who have passed through my classes.

I look forward to a time when we can all respect and value what each Australian has to offer in ensuring that everyone is valued in our society irrespective of race or creed.

"Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance." (2 Cor. 7:9) As an Orthodox Christian, I pray that people will repent for the current and past injustices committed against the Aboriginal people. For without repentance, God will not forgive us for the atrocities committed against His Aboriginal people.

Sorry is too small a word, I was born with an impairment so I know the problems of prejudice. I visited Australia last year and was disgusted to notice the lack of the Indigenous populations contact with "white Australia". There was not even a representative working in the Aboriginal Arts Centre in Sydney! I like Australia and am returning for 3 months in October but the treatment of the "original populace" is scandalous.

"I am sorry, not only for the dreadful acts which resulted in the stolen generation, but also for the continuing belief that before 1788 Australia was empty: empty of civilisation, and humanity and all their strengths and frailties; empty of law and religion and culture; empty of compassion, passion, dreaming and dreams; empty of nations.

How empty are the eyes of those who will not see? How empty the hearts of those who will not say a simple word to start Australia on the road to reconciliation and inclusion of all?"

I am writing this on Australia Day 2004. I am at home with my two daughters, aged 11 and 3. We're at home because I have no inclination to go out and celebrate the commencement of what the settlers did to the australian aboriginal people. I AM proud to be Australian...but the pride is in being an Australian who trusts in the native ownership of this beautiful land, and believes that every living thing on this earth is connected by positive energy, and we should all show respect. To the earth, to it's surroundings, and to everything that lives on it.



On behalf of my daughters and myself, I am sorry for the disrespect and arrogance that white settlers put upon the australian aboriginal people. We are three women who want friendship and healing.

much love,

Sorry. Such a small word and it feels not nearly enough. I am sorry for the ignorant, violent and appalling treatment of Indigenous Australian people in the past, and for the continuing attitude today. It is disheartening to think we have a government that will bend over backwards for another country yet still refuses to say one small five-letter word for the true owners of this land. Sorry

In 2001, I began my thesis journey at AIATSIS in Canberra, discovering that the Original Peoples of your land sadly share the legacy of stolen children and the Indian Boarding Schools/ Residential Schools that colonized cultures inflicted open the Original Peoples of North America. I am so sorry for the losses and character miseducation inflicted by self-righteous colonizing cultures on Original Peoples. There is so much to be learned from one another about healing together and nurturing hope for a brighter shared future for the generations to come. Perhaps you might like to visit http://www.turning-point.ca/index.php/article/author/view/178 here in Canada to share your insights. Many Aboriginal peoples in Canada are also suffering the intergenerational impact of the Stolen Generations. There is much wisdom to be learned from the traditional Elders. Sue Anderson-Kelly, Elder of Mnjikaning First Nation, Ontario, Canada is helping with the "Sorry" movement in one of the states in the United States and has worked hard with healing here in Canada. My digitized thesis on First Nations (Aboriginal) Character Education will be soon posted at the AIATSIS website. I hope that the voices of the Elders contained therein will help to open doors and that more Aboriginal peoples will share their views on living in harmony with one another and Mother Earth. If anyone wants to find out more about me, just do a web search on "Yvonne Dufault." My life's work is to be a bridge.

I wish that more people would recognise the importance of an apology, but above all, the importance of securing native title rights so that Aboriginal people all over Australia can return to their land. I can only hope that in the future we will be living in a country which has fully accepted its black history and the achievement of social justice.

I am 33 yrs old and until now I have been one of those people who had no idea what all the fuss was really about. I would just like to say, I know now and would like to apologise to the Aboriginal community for all the horrible things that have happened in the past and things that are still happening. Sorry, but please Smile as there are people who so care. Angela Jones.

I'm a white American woman and I I have just learned about the Stolen Generations. I'm ashamed that is not something that was discussed in my schools. I would like to apologize that my government did not learn its lessons of the past and did not try to aid Australia's native peoples. Perhaps if other white governments had opened a dialogue we could have prevented some of your pain

I am sorry that it has taken me this long, at 25 years of age, to learn of Australia's history, our nation's shame. I am so sorry for the pain and suffering caused, in the past, and to this present day

I am sorry, to the point I feel ashamed to sing our national anthem. I am a student who has been educated on what has happened to the Indigenous people of our country, I study with the goal that in the future I may able to help heal the wounds that were inflicted by our past governments.