Aboriginal+History+The+ups+and+downs+to+becoming+how+we+are+today

=The ups and downs to becoming how we are today, part 1 (1869-1999): = In 1869, the Victorian Board for the Protection of the Aborigines was established, over the next few years, the other states established their own Board for the Protection of Aborigines. In 1905 the Western Australian Act was passed. This act made the Chief Protector the legal guardian of all Aboriginals under the age of 16. In 1915, a law was created, allowing the government or protectors in the area remove children without a court hearing. This remained for many years, steadily getting worse for the Aborigines, until some people decided to question this practice. Was it really good for the Half-Castes?

The first movement was quite recently in 1994. The Going Home Conference was held in Darwin although the “stolen children” came from all different states. Over 600 people who were removed as children gathered to relive their past and express themselves to others like them.

After the Going Home Conference, the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families in established. This organization examined the effects of separation and saw what should have been done about it. The inquiry held hearings in all states between December 1995 and October 1996; over 777 submissions (69% from Aborigines, 6% from churches and 1% from the government) were received.

New research was found and slowly there was a bit of doubt creeping into people’s minds about removing children. In 1997 the Bringing Them Home report was published on the 26th of May, stating that the Aborigines deserve an official apology for the damage done and the years of suffering. Dr. Jane McKendric (a psychiatrist who worked with Aboriginal communities for over 17 years) had a major role in the Bringing Them Home report. She reported: “…there is a devastating impact on the children and their families…forced removal was highly traumatic for kids and families. Police broke cultural, spiritual and family bonds which crippled families and communities. “We was bought like a market. We was all lined up in white dresses and they would come around and pick you out like you was for sale,” anonymous women sobbed to Dr McKendric.

Records of the children were either destroyed or lost. Children were referred to ward numbers, not their rightful names. “For 18 years, the state of Victoria has referred to me as state ward no. 54321.” Paul, Bringing Them Home report. Dr McKendric went on further to declare: “When the Aboriginal children who were removed come to have their own children, they’ve really got no idea how to parent either in the conventional Aboriginal or non-aboriginal way…so their children are very often removed from them (by welfare agencies) which sets up this terrible cycle which goes on for generations.”

It was only one day after the Bringing Them Home report was released that the first premier gave his official apology. On the 27th of May, 1997 Western Australia’s R. Court (Premier) and G. Gallop (Leader of the opposition) gave their apology. Soon after that the other Premiers of the States of Australia gave their official apology to the Aborigines. Although the Premiers of their state gave their formal apology, Prime Minister John Howard refused. He claimed that it wasn’t the responsibility of this generation to apologise for past mistakes. In replacement of the apology, Mr. Howard gave a statement of “regret and motion of reconciliation” in parliament, but the nation still wasn’t happy. In the next few years, he was voted out as Prime Minister.

Help soon became available to Aborigines and their families. In 1998, services were provided to try and reunite families together as well as help with mental disabilities. In the same year Australians for Natives launches a new project “Sorry Books.” Anyone from the public could write a message in correspondence with the Federal Government’s refusal to make a formal apology. Children, Celebrities, migrants and visitors all took apart in this project, but still the Howard government refused to apologise.

Under the pressure of the Sorry Books and yet another report Social Justice Report being published, on the 26th of August, 1999, the Federal Parliament issues a statement of “deep and sincere regret;” but still there was no apology given out.

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