assimilation policy Flashcards
assimilation general
Aboriginal people could be exempt from basic restrictions like freedom of movement or getting married by applying for an Exemption Certificate or ‘dog tag’ as they were called. If you had this certificate, you renounced your Aboriginality and then you were allowed to have the same rights as white Australians.
what r the contradictory meanings?
Assimilation had contradictory meanings and horrific impacts. It promised that, in comparison to the protection policy, it would incorporate Aboriginal people into the rest of the community. The only problem was that you had to give up your Aboriginality, it had to be absorbed into the dominant white. That included native languages, names, cultural practices and with respect to the Stolen Generations, Aboriginal parents had no legal control over their children, the police, Chief Protector and the government/state was the legal guardian and could remove children at any time, if it was in their ‘best interests.’ the overwhelming emphasis on half-caste children is proof that in most cases, it was not about welfare, but rather about race.
stolen generation
The Assimilation policy was closely linked to the Stolen Generations. The idea here was to ask Aboriginals to give up all aspects of their culture and fit in with the white way of life. Sought to ‘absorb’ the minority culture into the majority. To ‘breed out’ ATSI. This was something that Aboriginal people were not prepared to do. Despite the idea of the policy, Aborigines continued to live on the fringes of society in shanty towns. They continued to be neglected and discriminated against and lacked the most basic rights and freedoms.
segragation
Practices of segregation still occurring e.g. in the cinemas and other public facilities such as swimming pools (Moree) and Walgett RSL - the Freedom Rides.
