Members of the Stolen Generations were remembered today on the 13th anniversary of the National Apology.
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On February 13, 2008 former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised to Indigenous Australians affected by past government policies of forced child removal and Indigenous assimilation.
The anniversary was marked in Katherine by a ceremony at the museum.
The day is a chance to reflect on the continuous effects of the past according to Kamahi Djordan King, who spoke at the event.
"Remember the Stolen Generation and their struggles," he said.
"They lived in a world that still affects us today."
He spoke about Indigenous people's connection to country and stressed another Stolen Generation should not be created via ongoing family separation.
Juanita Kruger, forcibly taken from her parents as a child, spoke about the importance of keeping families together on country to avoid the ongoing damage triggered by forced removals in the past.
"Once we lose culture, we lose land, we lose everything," she said.
Candles were lit in honour of people from the Stolen Generations who have since died, and visitors were invited to write messages to survivors, which will be passed on by advocates such as the Healing Foundation and Katherine Regional Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation.
According to the Healing Foundation, the National Apology is important because the word "sorry" in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages and cultures holds special meaning.
The word is often used to describe the rituals surrounding death known as Sorry Business.
According to the foundation "sorry", in this context, expresses empathy, sympathy and an acknowledgment of loss rather than responsibility.
"We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these, our fellow Australians," Kevin Rudd said in the apology at the time.
"We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country."
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