Debra A. Hocking - Speaking My Truth

was demeaning, and we needed to get on with healing regardless of thegovernment.The growing division threatened to destroy the movement, and I wasdetermined that would not happen. The only solution I could see was togo our separate ways. I spoke to many people around the country and wasurged to create a new movement, not in opposition to the National SorryDay Committee, but to work alongside it. Those who wished to focus on anapology were welcome to do so. Those who wished to focus on healing wouldform a new organization.We met in Sydney in early 2007 and formed a new committee, which we calledthe “Stolen Generations Alliance—Australians for Healing, Truth and Justice.”Many people have joined us in this, including former Prime Minister MalcolmFraser and Lowitja O’Donoghue, one of Indigenous Australia’s most powerfulleaders, who are now our co-patrons. All states and territories are representedin this alliance, and there is much positive energy among those involved.I believe this energy comes from our determination to offer everyone,Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, a part in shaping a new society, free of theracism that has scarred our nation. We invite everyone to work with us: theStolen Generations, the whole Aboriginal community, federal and stategovernments, and the wider Australian community.There is much work to be done. Many educative structures are needed toenable Australians to understand the hurts and traumas that Aboriginalpeople in this country have endured so that the wounds may heal. Thereis also much forgiveness and understanding needed within the Aboriginalcommunity, as so often the frustrations and injustices from the past areinternalized, leading to division among Aboriginal people. This needs to beunderstood by the wider community. And we, Aboriginal people, need totake responsibility for our emotional and social well-being.Reconciliation is far from dead in this country. Sometimes it seems we arestruggling up a series of mountain ranges, reaching one only to find there isanother right behind it. But our mountainous terrains can flatten out, andwe can walk on common ground as one people. There is a conscious effort bymany of all races to seek healing in this country. Reconciliation can becomea way of life in this country, rather than a political tool used by governmentfor its own purposes. Until then will we create for our children a country ofhealing, truth, and justice.288 | Debra A. Hocking