Taylor Thompson
24 April 2014
Freshman Seminar
The Stolen Generations
When people use the term genocide, they are typically referring to the mass
slaughter of people. Genocide, however, has a much broader definition. The 1948
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide declared that the
forcible transfer of children from one group to another also constitutes as genocide
when it is conducted with the intent to destroy a group in whole or in part.
1Genocide
committed through the forcible transfer of children has occurred all over
the world, even in the United States and Canada. Perhaps the most notable case of
these acts took place in Australia from the last 1800’s to the 1970’s. These children
who were taken are today referred to as the Stolen Generations. The Australian
government committed genocide against the Aboriginal people of Australia.
Through their acts, the government, knowingly, attempted to eradicate cultures of
the indigenous peoples o f Australia through forced assimilation in hopes to dilute
the Aboriginal race through procreation. 2
1
"The International Legal Definition of Genocide - Prevent Genocide International." The
International Legal Definition of Genocide - Prevent Genocide International. N.p., n.d.
Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
. Robinson, Shirleene, and Jessica Paten. "The Question of Genocide and Indigenous
Child Removal: The Colonial Australian Context." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO,
Dec. 2008. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=59f048a9-ee1a-4c1c872f2
Aboriginal history in Australia predates British colonization by 45,000 years.
The Aboriginal people were hunter-gatherers who relied heavily upon their
traditional lands for food and water. In 1778, Australia was colonized through penal
transportation. The British used Australia as a prison colony where they would send
their petty criminals. The British Colonist mistakenly assumed that the Aboriginals
were nomads with no concept of land ownership, so they forced many Aboriginals
off of their traditional lands. Governor Macquarie in 1816 originally intended to
“help” the Aborigines by inviting them to “relinquish their wandering, idle and
predatory habits of life, and to became industrious and useful members of a
community where they will find protection and encouragement”.1 The Aboriginal
people did not intend to give up their traditional lands to the settlers. The
Aboriginals resisted so the settlers forced Aboriginals off their lands and the
Aboriginal resistance was no match for British colonists superior weaponry. These
land disputes sometimes led to massacres of hundreds of Aboriginal people at a
time. British Colonists also brought death and disease to the Aboriginal people.
Aboriginals suffered immediate effects of widespread diseases that they had not
developed immunity towards, such as small pox, chicken pox, influenza, and
measles. From 1788 to the 1900’s a combination of disease, loss of land and
intentional violence resulted in a dramatic decrease in the Aboriginal population
f956fa248f9f%40sessionmgr198&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2Z
Q%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=35113337>.
1
"Aborigines." Aborigines. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
that is estimated to be a 90% decrease in population.1 Tense relations between
Aboriginal Australians and European Australians still exist today.
The term Stolen Generations refers to the many Aboriginal children who
were forcibly removed from their families by the Australian government from the
late 1800’s to the early 1970’s. An estimated 100,000 children were removed from
their parents’ custody and placed in the neglectful care of the Australian
government. One in three Aboriginal children were taken; there was not a single
Aboriginal family left untouched by this tragedy.2 The Australian government was
responding to an assumed need to provide protection for neglected, abused, or
abandoned “mixed-caste” children. In almost all cases of children removed, at least
one of their parents was white or mixed-race and the other Aboriginal. The majority
of the children taken were females between the ages of 6 and 11. There is evidence
that the real motivation behind taking the “half-caste” children was to make them
more culturally European and to eventually create a common blend through
procreation.3 There was widespread belief that the full-blood Aboriginals were
dying out and their race would eventually become extinct. This supported beliefs
Dafler, Jeffrey R. "SOCIAL DARWINISM AND THE LANGUAGE OF RACIAL
OPPRESSION: Australia's Stolen Generations." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO,
Apr. 2005. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
2 Cuthbert, Denise, and Marian Quartly. "Forced Child Removal and the Politics of
National Apologies in Australia." American Indian Quarterly Spring 2013: 178202. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
3 Dafler, Jeffrey R. "SOCIAL DARWINISM AND THE LANGUAGE OF RACIAL
OPPRESSION: Australia's Stolen Generations." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO,
Apr. 2005. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=2bb29f14-4ffc4037-ab4669ad99cc8d26%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3Qtb
Gl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=16813390>.
1
that some held that Europeans were racially superior to Aboriginals. In 1930 the
Chief Protector of Aborigines in Western Australia wrote, “eliminate in future the
full-blood and the white and one common blend will remain. Eliminate the full blood
and permit the white admixture and eventually the race will become white”. 1Many
accepted that fifth and sixth generation mixed Aboriginals were officially white.
New child removal legislation resulted in the widespread removal of
children. Australian police and Aboriginal Protection officers were given the
authority to locate and confiscate Aboriginal children of mixed descent. Children in
some cases were even removed from the hospital shortly after birth and the
families’ were told that the child had died. Aboriginal Protection officers were not
required to provide any other justification for the removal other than that the
parents were Aboriginal. Neglect was assumed. They also were not required to
provide evidence in court that the children were actually being neglected.
Children in most cases were placed into institutional facilities operated by
religious or charitable organizations. Some children were placed into the care of
foster families or were even adopted into white families. The intent of these
institutions was to prevent the children from socializing within their native culture.
Dafler, Jeffrey R. "SOCIAL DARWINISM AND THE LANGUAGE OF RACIAL
OPPRESSION: Australia's Stolen Generations." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO,
Apr. 2005. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=2bb29f14-4ffc4037-ab4669ad99cc8d26%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3Qtb
Gl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=16813390>.
1
1Even
children who were taken at and older age lost most of their native culture and
many forgot how to speak their native languages because they were not permitted
to do so in these institutions. The institutions aimed to prepare the boys for
agricultural labor and the girls were groomed for lives as domestic servants. The
institutions sent them to work as early as the age of fourteen. Critics of the child
removal policies equated this “training” to slave labor. It was common for these
institutions to not keep records on the parentage or any identifying information on
where they could be from of the children they housed. Many children experienced
physical and mental abuse in these facilities. Sexual abuse was also common among
victims of the Stolen Generations, 17% of females and 7% of males report being
sexually abused. There is also evidence that these institutions did not provide
adequate housing, clothing, or food for their wards.
The earliest form of child removal policy in Australia was the Aboriginal
Protection Act of 1869. This legislation gave the board for the protection of
Aborigines extensive authority over Aborigines including the power to remove
children of “half-caste” status from their parents. This legislation also gave the
Board the authority to regulate residence, employment, and marriage of
Aborigines.2
1
Grieves, Vicki. "Orphaned by the Colour of My Skin: A Stolen Generation
Story."Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, July 2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=4d02c44b-4320-4265b042236add33d312%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2
ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=43609790>.
2 Robinson, Shirleene, and Jessica Paten. "The Question of Genocide and Indigenous
Child Removal: The Colonial Australian Context." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO,
Dec. 2008. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
In 1886, the Half Caste Act was enacted. This allowed the removal and forced
assimilation of Aboriginals of mixed descent. These removals uprooted and
separated families. This led to protest and more violence. The Board that forced
assimilation refused to offer assistance to those they forced to leave their families
and communities behind.
In 1915, The Aboriginals Protecting Amending Act gave the Aborigines
Protection Board the authority to remove Aboriginal children without having to
establish in court that the children were neglected. 1 Status as an Aboriginal was
enough cause for the government to take your children away. The argument was
that all children of mixed descent should be treated as neglected. This led to many
instances of caring and able parents being improperly identified as neglectful.
The Australian government left behind a tidal wave of destruction when it
comes to their child removal policies. At the age of 18, children were released from
government custody. Although, they weren’t released as well adjusted adults. The
social impacts on the Stolen generations have been proven to be quite severe.
Multiple studies have shown that removed Aboriginals are worse off than their non
removed counterparts. Members of the Stolen Generations are less likely to have
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=59f048a9-ee1a-4c1c872ff956fa248f9f%40sessionmgr198&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2Z
Q%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=35113337>.
1 Robinson, Shirleene, and Jessica Paten. "The Question of Genocide and Indigenous
Child Removal: The Colonial Australian Context." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO,
Dec. 2008. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=59f048a9-ee1a-4c1c872ff956fa248f9f%40sessionmgr198&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2Z
Q%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=35113337>.
completed secondary school, three times as likely to have been arrested, and are
twice as likely to abuse narcotics.1 For many victims, especially those who were
never adopted by loving adoptive families and were raised in institutions, continue
to deal with post-traumatic stress throughout their lifetimes. Many will deal with
issues of isolation, loss, and abuse for the rest of their life. The Australian
government’s child removal policies broke parental links and stole the cultural
identity of thousands of Aboriginals. Some of the Stolen generations at the time of
their release were able to get ahold of identifying information and records of their
family and were able to try to reconnect with the family that was stolen from them.
Sadly, many others found out that their lineage would be forever lost to them.2
In 1997, a report entitled “Bringing Them Home” was released. This report
included the testimony from 535 Aboriginal Australians. As a result of this report
formal apologies were offered to the Stolen Generation victims by individual state
parliaments. In 1998, the first national Sorry Day was held to bringing awareness to
the atrocities that were committed. In 2008, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a
. Barta, Tony. "Sorry, and Not Sorry, in Australia: How the Apology to the Stolen
Generations Buried a History of Genocide." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, June
2008. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=74cb00c6-cc874cd4-a248493a74fc0c88%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbG
l2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=34478335>.
1
Murphy, Michael. "Apology, Recognition, and Reconciliation." Academic Search
Complete. EBSCO, Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 20114.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=200d88b0-1b10429c-9c3120661644d280%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3Qtb
Gl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=58527073>.
2
formal federal apology. Australia has since been criticized by the U.N. for the lack of
psychological support the victims have received to help with their trauma. 1
The legal definition of genocide includes the forcible transfer of
children from one group to another as an act of genocide. The government in
Australia through their child removal policies intended to destroy the Aboriginal
population in its entirety. The Australian government through forced assimilation,
knowingly, attempted to eradicate the cultures of the Aboriginal Australians. It is
important to recognize these acts as genocide because of the immense sociological
trama it inflicts upon its victims and the cultural identities are lost to it. It is also
important to note that the forced removal of children from one group to another is
not just limited to Australia, but also occurred in Canada and the United States.
. Barta, Tony. "Sorry, and Not Sorry, in Australia: How the Apology to the Stolen
Generations Buried a History of Genocide." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, June
2008. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=74cb00c6-cc874cd4-a248493a74fc0c88%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbG
l2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=34478335>.
1
Bibliography
1. Cuthbert, Denise, and Marian Quartly. "Forced Child Removal and the Politics of
National Apologies in Australia." American Indian Quarterly Spring 2013: 178202. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=0da0bd3c-86f544a2-8f95b9832a211695%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3Qtb
Gl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=ofm&AN=87560671>.
2. Dafler, Jeffrey R. "SOCIAL DARWINISM AND THE LANGUAGE OF RACIAL
OPPRESSION: Australia's Stolen Generations." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO,
Apr. 2005. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=2bb29f14-4ffc4037-ab4669ad99cc8d26%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3Qtb
Gl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=16813390>.
3. Murphy, Michael. "Apology, Recognition, and Reconciliation." Academic Search
Complete. EBSCO, Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 20114.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=200d88b0-1b10429c-9c31-
20661644d280%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3Qtb
Gl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=58527073>.
4. Barta, Tony. "Sorry, and Not Sorry, in Australia: How the Apology to the Stolen
Generations Buried a History of Genocide." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, June
2008. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=74cb00c6-cc874cd4-a248493a74fc0c88%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbG
l2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=34478335>.
5. Grieves, Vicki. "Orphaned by the Colour of My Skin: A Stolen Generation
Story."Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, July 2009. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=4d02c44b-4320-4265b042236add33d312%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2
ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=43609790>.
6. Robinson, Shirleene, and Jessica Paten. "The Question of Genocide and Indigenous
Child Removal: The Colonial Australian Context." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO,
Dec. 2008. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.
<http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umw.edu/ehost/detail?sid=59f048a9-ee1a-4c1c872ff956fa248f9f%40sessionmgr198&vid=1&hid=126&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2Z
Q%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=35113337>.
7. "The International Legal Definition of Genocide - Prevent Genocide
International." The International Legal Definition of Genocide - Prevent Genocide
International. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
8. "Aborigines." Aborigines. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.