The Stolen Generation
Explore the online exhibtion.
The Policy
The Australian Protection Board was the group who enacted this policy removing children without consent and moving children into missionaries or institutions and some being fostered out.
When the assimilation policies were acted upon Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people who were not considered 'full blood' were 'encouraged' to assimilate to become more suited to a 'white' society, seeing indigenous people as inferior. Removal of the children was to bring them up 'white' and dismiss their culture.
Observe the artifacts in the online exhibition to learn more.
(A) Half-caste policy in the Northern Territory
Abbott, CLA (1940). Half-caste policy in the Northern Territory- Summary of a report by the Director of Native Affairs. Retrieved from http://vrroom.naa.gov.au/records/?ID=24679 10/09/2013.
Critque
(C) Assimilation
McGirr, J (1951). Assimilation with the white community- Reply to Prime Minister Robert Menzies' invitation to a conference on 'native welfare.' Retrieved from http://vrroom.naa.gov.au/records/?ID=18884 10/09/2013
Critique
(G) The Oenpelli Church
Critique
(D) The Case For Yes
The Prime Ministers Department (1967). Case for 'Yes' in 1967 Indigenous referendum- Argument in favour of the proposed Constitution Alteration (Aboriginals) 1967. Retrieved http://vrroom.naa.gov.au/records/?ID=24248 10/10/2013
Critique
(E) An Education
Australian National Travel Association (1941-1960). Indigenous students at school. Retrieved http://vrroom.naa.gov.au/records/index.aspx?ID=19509&confirm=Go+ahead 09/10/2013.
Critique
(F) Sewing Class
Unknown (1960). Sewing Class, Mapoon Mission. Photograph reproduced courtesy of the State Library of Queensland and the community of Old Mapoon. Retrieved http://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/track-history-us-taken-away-kids-commemorating-10th-anniversary-bringing-them-home 09/10/2013.
Critique
(B) Lola Edwards, a child of the Stolen Generation reunites with her mother.
The video is an oral history told by Lola Edwards who was taken as a toddler and spent her life in institutions where she was expected to learn how to ‘act’ white. Lola reunites with her mother after living in America with her partner for some years after not seeing her mother since she was three years old.
Atayman, B. (2008). Stolen Generations. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD_Rva594Wg 12/09/2013
Critque
(H) Searching For Family
Creative Spirits (2012). Effects on those who were stolen. Retrieved from http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/stolen-generations-effects-and-consequences#ixzz2gfOyafmO 10/09/2013.
Critique
(I) National Apology to the Stolen Generations
Kevin Rudd delivered this speech on 13th of February 2008. This came after the Bringing Them Home Report ten years earlier. Prime Minister at the time, Kevin Rudd apologised to Australian Indigenous peoples who were part of the Stolen Generations saying sorry to the communities for the laws and policies that caused 'profound grief' and acknowledged their loss.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (2008). National Apology to the Stolen Generations. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiLnsFyAVqE 13/09/2013.