IN REPLY to the letter by Isabella Parker (January 30), I feel compelled to apologise to any people of our "First Nation” who read such a shocking comment about their history.

To suggest tens of thousands of years ago, the ancestors of the Aboriginal race displaced or annihilated anyone could do nothing but harm to all reading it.

It is difficult to understand why anyone would use such hate-filled language.

The recent "colonisation” a few hundred years ago did indeed include attempted annihilation and we should be ashamed of the treatment that so many suffered.

We surely must look at this part of our history with sorrow, anger and disbelief at mankind's inhumanity to the vulnerable.

We need to go forward with compassion and justice for that is what makes us better human beings.

PATRICIA HAMILTON

Twin Waters