In Pictures

2020 National Apology Breakfast

A group of UniSA staff and a student representative attended the 2020 National Apology Breakfast earlier this year.

The UniSA table was hosted by the Office of Aboriginal Leadership and Strategy and included Aboriginal Elders, UniSA professional and academic staff, Wirringka Student Services and the 2020 USASA Aboriginal student representative.

The event was attended by about 1800 people, including members of the Stolen Generations and their family members, who were recognised through a candle-lit silence. All attendees received a copy of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, by the Australian Parliament, 13 February 2008.

The event opened with a Welcome to Country introduced by Kaurna Elder Uncle Frank Wanganeen who deferred to his 15-year-old grandson, Joseph Irabinna Tarnda Wanganeen, to give the Welcome, in both Kaurna and English. Premier Steven Marshall also spoke.

The event featured performance art, dance and music. A highlight was a poem by internationally acclaimed Yankunytjatjara/Kokatha poet Ali Cobby-Eckermann, Circles and Squares, presented as an audio-visual display and accompanied by a dance performance from young female members of Yellaka.

The important work of Nunkuwarrin Yunti’s Link-Up SA counselling service to members of the Stolen Generations and their families was also showcased through a panel discussion. A musical performance by Tony Minniecon and his daughter Ada Parker-Minniecon closed the event. The breakfast was hosted by Reconciliation SA. The masters of ceremony were SA Commissioner for Children and Young People Helen Connolly and Reconciliation SA co-chair Peter Buckskin.