Abstract
The high rate of removal of Indigenous children from their families has produced a devastating impact on Aboriginal communities. In discussing how an ongoing failure to appreciate the intergenerational impact of forced removals has led to a failure in policy as well as the continued removal of Indigenous children from their communities today, this essay argues the importance of acknowledging the complexity of the Stolen Generations over simplistic narratives that foster divisiveness. KeywordsStolen Generations; assimilation policy; history wars; interventionism
Highlights
In 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered an apology to Aboriginal Australians on behalf of the nation for the twentieth century child removal practices known historically as the ‘Stolen Generations’ (Australia, House of Representatives 2008)
The conservative establishment has historically argued that the child removal policies of the twentieth century were underpinned by a desire to better the lives of Aboriginal people
The central argument of this essay is that Australia’s failure to learn from the historical trauma of child removal is the substantial cause of the continued policy of removing Aboriginal children from their communities
Summary
In 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered an apology to Aboriginal Australians on behalf of the nation for the twentieth century child removal practices known historically as the ‘Stolen Generations’ (Australia, House of Representatives 2008). The conservative establishment has historically argued that the child removal policies of the twentieth century were underpinned by a desire to better the lives of Aboriginal people. The central argument of this essay is that Australia’s failure to learn from the historical trauma of child removal is the substantial cause of the continued policy of removing Aboriginal children from their communities.
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