Contents

30 Add water and stir: A resource bank of CGEA material for LLNP
Activity 8: The National Apology
The purpose of this activity is to provide a platform through which
issues in contemporary Indigenous culture can be introduced for
further discussion. While the written text in itself is not readily
accessible for readers at CGEA Introductory level, and is not a simple
text, it is accompanied by its oral text format. Learners can listen, reread
and replay as required. This is a different reading skill for learners
to develop, and a strategy for dealing with more difficult text. Teachers
can offer appropriate support by guiding learners through the reading,
focusing on particular areas of meaning, and engaging learners in
discussion. For example, what is the effect of the repetition of words
and phrases in the text (such as ‘we say sorry’)? It should not be
considered for assessment without audio visual and teacher support.
• Provide learners with Handout 18, which is part of the text of
Kevin Rudd’s apology speech . Then ask learners to access The
Prime Minister’s National Apology to Aboriginal peoples. This
can be done via the internet form the following site. http://www.
abc.net.au/news/events/apology/ Go to featured video and select PM
Kevin Rudd says Sorry to the Stolen Generations. (Handout 18 is the
written transcript of this excerpt.)
• After viewing, ask learners to return to Handout 1 and support a
discussion of the content of the speech. Suggested questions to
support this discussion are:
––‘When and where was the apology made?’
––‘On whose behalf was the apology being made?’
––‘Who is the apology being made to?’
––‘What is the apology for?’
––‘Why is the apology important for Australia’s future?’
• Ask learners to work in small groups and work out what they
would like to say to Kevin Rudd in response to this speech. Work
out one or two sentences in response. Ask member of group to
write this down – teacher to assist where necessary. Report back to
whole class.
Extension reading activity
The ABC site allows readers to access the full text of the apology
motion, access Brendan Nelson’s speech, view footage from the
speeches (either full footage or excerpts) and go to related links. A