My apology to you - Recognition and Truth Telling

"Truth leads us to freedom" ...Pastor Ossie Cruse MBE AM has dedicated his life to the advancement of Aboriginal people and the survival and sharing of Aboriginal culture and knowledge, uniting generations in intercultural understanding and respect. He took his message to the United Nations, subsequently advocating on the global stage through his work with the World Council of Indigenous Peoples and the Pacific Asia Council of Indigenous Peoples.

Today, 2nd March 2024, marked a significant moment for me and many others, standing beside one another, in unity, with shared purpose.

We gathered for 'A National Act of Recognition' at Kurnell, Kamay Botany Bay, near the landing site of Lieutenant James Cook.  Kamay was the site of Cook’s first encounter with First Nations people, the Gweagal people, in 1770, where atrocious crimes were committed, and it is fitting that we gathered at the site where Australians recognise the truth about our shared history since colonisation.

It was an emotional and powerful moment for me, as I spoke this apology to the many First Nations peoples, elders and others, who had come from across Australia to share this important occasion together...

I am a teacher, and a Principal. I love education and learning is my passion.

I was a school student in the 1970. As a small boy sitting here in this place with my mother and father, I recall watching the enactment of Cook’s arrival. We came here to celebrate this moment in history. We were told that it was a glorious most wonderful moment. I was taught as a primary student that this happened peacefully and with the consent of First Nations peoples. I was lied to, I was taught that Cook was a hero. I was lied to. How could I have been so stupid. As a young teacher a few decades later I initially continued to teach the lies. Our history curriculum both then and for many years later perpetuated this convenient and comfortable myth. I am profoundly sorry for this.

For me I am embarrassed to say it was a Year 4 student who challenged me and said it like this….
"No body comes to your home, and enters in the front door and says to the owner, this is now my house. But quite simply this is what happen. Stolen home, stolen lands - done without consent."

I am pleased to say that our current curriculum now tells much more of the truth. I am proud to say that I work with a generation of teachers, teachers who stand with me this morning, who understand and seek to keep listening and tell the truth we are hearing today. Yet, there is still so much to do, but today is a wonderful start.

I have been a Principal of an Anglican School for 17 years. Last year I was bestowed the honour of being named 'The Australian Primary Principal of the year, 2023. I speak in this capacity today. As a leader of a Christian school I am ashamed of the past actions caused by many Christian leaders in schools across Australia. What many religious leaders did in the name of God is abhorrent and certainly does not reflect the loving God that I believe in. I acknowledge the pain and trauma caused by many schools and religious institutions and I offer my sincerest of apologies to those people, to you and your family members, your land and community who are here today.

A Declaration of Recognition
We gather at the place where our shared history began – Kamay Botany Bay.
Though we speak of untold loss and grief,
Yet also we are filled with gratitude – for what we have found in each other.
 
We see the many fair minded people who live on all these lands.
We see First Nations people who have generously shown love and forgiveness.
We see later Australians who, seeing truth, labour to make wrong things right.
 
And yet, we know that the heart of our nation is disturbed.
At the heart of our nation there lies a profound injustice – and a deep divide.
It is a divide between descendants of those who were here and those who came.
 
First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, became oppressed.
On our first day of shared history, an armed attack was launched against them.
Tall ships came from the sea – and other people overran Country.
 
Belonging to Country, First Peoples were dispossessed of their homelands.
Elders looked and saw – old people displaced, no Place of belonging.
They looked and saw – language forbidden, culture, identity – all lost.
Young lives broken by inter-generational trauma - lives over before they began.
 
The time has come to recognise the truth about European arrival in this land.
The voice of First Peoples must be heard,
And the voice of all people of goodwill heard with them.

With this Declaration of Recognition we enter the Truth Telling space together.
We declare that at this place we recognise the truth – the stains on our past.
 
We publicly reject, and strongly condemn these colonising actions.
They are not acceptable to us – they were not done in our name.
 
We celebrate a truth that binds us together, the truth of our common humanity.
We commit to walking together – in our resolve to making wrong things right.  
 
Truth leads us to freedom

Beginning in 1997, 'A National Act of Recognition' has developed a simple but powerful Truth-Telling model. It involved 26 years of consulting with First Nations people where they live – on Country – in urban, regional and remote areas.  This is a joint venture designed by first and later Australians working together, with the support of local Elders and La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council. Our Truth Telling model can be found at www.actofrecognition.org.au