- Google AI Overview
National Sorry Day is held annually in Australia on May 26 to acknowledge and remember the Stolen Generations—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children forcibly removed from their families. First observed in 1998, it is a day of healing, reflection, and reconciliation, marking the anniversary of the “Bringing Them Home” report.
Key Details About National Sorry Day
- Date: Observed annually on May 26.
- Purpose: To commemorate the Stolen Generations, acknowledge the intergenerational trauma caused by forced removal, and support the healing process.
- Significance: While not a public holiday, it is a crucial, widely recognized day in Australia that initiates National Reconciliation Week.
- History: The first Sorry Day was held on May 26, 1998, following the 1997 report that exposed the forced removal policies of the 20th century.
- 2008 Apology: In 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a formal apology to the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian government.
- Activities: Events include memorial services, marches, “sorry books” to sign, and planting native hibiscus flowers, which symbolize the day.
National Sorry Day plays a key role in the ongoing reconciliation process between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
