Even though imperialism clearly isn’t a thing of the past as a global phenomenon, the Australian government is preparing to verbally own up to a painful chapter from its own national history by formally apologizing to Aborigines for past attempts at “civilizing” their people via forced assimilation initiatives that spanned more than five decades.


BBC:

Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin said the apology would be the first item of business when the new legislature convened on 13 February.

It is aimed at the “Stolen Generations” — Aboriginal children taken from their parents to be raised by white families.

It was the “first, necessary step to move forward from the past”, she said.

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