Aboriginal+History+A+bit+about+the+Stolen+Generations

= About the Stolen Generations: = The government had ruled that for the future well-being of the half-castes, they should be taken and brought to live in a white family’s home. A law was made, making it legal for “protectors” to come to an Aboriginal’s home and take their children; no question would be asked. A chief protector would be in charge of an area, keeping an eye on the institutes and ordering the removal of a child.

During these dreadful years, it is estimated that over 100,000 children were removed from their families. Most of the children forcibly removed were to be placed in institutes and white families homes. There they were raised and taught to be servants and labourers.

At the time the whites thought that by removing the children, they were helping the Aborigines. But unfortunately many of the children were sexually and physically assaulted. No one stood up for their rights, so they suffered in silence. It was commonly found that members of the stolen generation would become rebellious and find themselves spending time in jails and other institutes. It was also common for them to abuse drugs and alcohol. It was found that members of the stolen generation were hyperactive, likely to suffer from depression, twice as likely to abuse drugs and alcohol and to suffer from emotional and behavioral issues compared to other indigenous children. A report done by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody found that over 50% of the deaths of children every year were those who were apart of the Stolen Generations.

The Stolen Generations was one of the major parts in Australia’s history and many different organizations were involved. As to whether or not they supported the removal of children or not varied with each association. The Government, Aborigines Protection Board, churches and welfare were some of the major organizations supporting the removal of children meanwhile the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Going Home Conference and Australians for Natives were just some examples of organizations that wanted to change the law. It is estimated that there were over 17 major different organizations which either supported the abolition of children, tired to stop the removal of children or were neutral, simply supplying their knowledge when questioned.

It is believed that many people that were a part of the government or church abused their power and breached their obligation. Many were outright cruel to the Aborigines and detested them for their differences. J. Isdell (Western Australian traveling protector in 1909) once stated: “I would not hesitate to separate any half-caste from its Aboriginal mother, no matter how frantic her momentary grief might be at the time. They soon forget their offspring.”

There were also organizations that would care about the half-castes themselves, understanding their personal need and trying to stop the law of allowing children to be removed without a court order. The Bringing Them Home Report was a major part of this. Researching and reporting the lifestyles of the Aboriginal children forced to live in a stranger’s home.

The Bringing Them Home report collected facts, figures and personal stories and came to their own conclusion about the stolen generations. “…foster parents would often through any letters received from families in the bin…later the foster parents would say: “see, your parents don’t care about you,”… children were repetitively told they were unwanted, or rejected by their parents, or that their parents were dead.” The Bringing Them Home report questioned the well-being of the child and made clear suggestions to the government; putting pressure on them to do something about the abduction of Aboriginal children. It pushed for an official apology to be given to the Aborigines along with compensation for the years of suffering they went through. It also made over 50 other suggestions, trying to get the government to treat the Aborigines as equals.

A book has been written by the child of a woman who was a part of the stolen generations. From that a movie has been made: Rabbit Proof Fence. Based on a true story of three Aboriginal girls, Rabbit Proof Fence is a great way to further understand the Stolen Generations and be able to capture a moment of the past.

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