The Stolen Generations

Went to see an advanced screening of Australia Monday night. One of the perks of having family here is that I managed to get to Bondi on time even though I only got the call an hour before the event started. It was all nice and fancy, with goodie bags, canapés and drinks before we got shown to the gold class cinema for our taste of Baz Luhrmann's new celluloid extravaganza.

It was nice. A bit too syrupy but anyone who's seen Baz's work should know what to expect. A love story... cliched and romantic. The WWII backdrop with the bombing of Darwin was interesting (and done differently than Pearl Harbor - thank the gods) but what was really gut-wrenching for me was the weaving of the stolen generations into the storyline. And yes, I cried.

The forced removal of Aboriginal (as well as Torres Strait Islander) children from their families was official government policy from 1909 to the early 1970s. Governments, churches and welfare bodies all took part. The Aborigines Protection Board (APB) was a government board established in 1909 with the power to remove children without parental consent and without a court order.

Children were taken from Aboriginal parents so they could be brought up ‘white’ and taught to reject their Aboriginality. Children were placed with institutions and from the 1950s began also being placed with white families. Aboriginal children were expected to become labourers or servants, so in general the education they were provided was very poor. Aboriginal girls in particular were sent to homes established by the Board to be trained in domestic service.

(This is a practice that also took place in Canada. Maybe that's why it echoes so loudly with me.)

The lack of understanding and respect for Aboriginal people also meant that many people who supported the child removals believed that they were doing the ‘right thing’. Some people believed that Aboriginal people lived poor and unrewarding lives, and that institutions would provide a positive environment in which Aboriginal people could better themselves. The dominant racist views in the society and government also means that people believed that Aboriginal people were bad parents and that Aboriginal woman did not look after their children.

No-one knows how many children were taken, as most records have been lost or destroyed. Many parents whose children were taken never saw them again, and siblings who were taken were deliberately seperated from each other. Today many Aboriginal people still do not know who their relatives are or have been unable to track them down.

The generations of children who were taken from their families became known as the Stolen Generations. The practice of removing children continued up until the late 1960s meaning today there are Aboriginal people as young as their late 30s and 40s who are members of the Stolen Generations.

The above taken from the ReconciliACTION Network website.

And as seen around,

What Your Taste in Chocolate Says About You

You are sophisticated, modern, and high class. Your taste is refined, but you are not picky. You are often the first to try something new. You are confident and strong. You know what you want, and you're willing to wait for it. While you do eventually get what you want, people consider you materialistic. You love being around people. Friendships are important to you. You feel lost when you're by yourself... so you tend to avoid being alone.

The Chocolate Oracle

Not very accurate. I have no problem being on my own.