experiences of the stolen generation Flashcards
general expereince
The Stolen Generations continued on, well into the assimilation and integration policies. Aboriginal children could legally be taken away as they were all wards of the state. It was allegedly in their best interest.
half-caste
half-caste children, in particular, were selected as they were deemed more capable of assimilating into white society. It also was linked to the government’s unofficial plan to ‘breed out’ the Aborigine.
schools
Children, as young as babies were taken away and brought up in missions and homes such as Bomaderry, Kinchela Boys Home and Cootamundra Girls School. There was no real curriculum, but a domestic education aimed at creating female servants and male stock hands. Adoption also occurred and tragically, for many children, they were subjected to physical and sexual abuse.
assimilation effect
The experiences of these children varied greatly. Some did have a reasonable upbringing. For many, if not most though, it left them caught between two cultures, confused about their identity and history. Children were given new names and no link to their former families. As adults, these people are over-represented in drug and alcohol and suicide statistics. Some have never met their families, while for others like Australian actor, Burnum Burnum, it has been a long struggle.
Up until the late 1960’s, mainstream Australia did not know about this ‘systematic’ removal and it has sadly been too long a journey before the Kevin Rudd apology to the Stolen Generations in 2007.
