Assessment 2 Essay
Indigenous Education & Perspectives
Assessment 2: Essay
Topic: The Stolen Generations
ELA: Angela Perry
Written By: Samantha Morrison
Student Number: 100169529
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following assessment may contain images and names of deceased persons.
This essay will define and discuss the event of the Stolen Generations. It will analyse the nature of the affects and impacts of the event on Indigenous Australians, reflect on the relevance of educators having an understanding of this historical event and lastly will discuss how the event undermines and supports the use of Indigenous language.
The ‘Stolen Generations’ is a term used to describe the actions of which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, mostly children, were taken away from their families between the 1890’s and the 1970’s (Korff, 2014). Children were taken to institutions or adopted by non-Indigenous families and most never saw their families again. In the early 1900’s the Australian public was persuaded into believing Aboriginal children were deprived, mistreated and at risk in their own communities. People believed that Aboriginal children would receive a better education, a more loving and caring family and a more civilised upbringing if adopted by white families or government institutions. In reality Aboriginal children were being removed so that they could be introduced to ‘Anglo values’ and ‘work habits’. Their reasoning behind this was that Indigenous children would be employed by colonial settlers, and would stop their biological parents, families and communities from passing on their culture, language and identity to them (Nsdc.org.au, n.d.). The children that the authorities targeted for removal had one parent that was white and the other was Indigenous. The Aboriginal protection boards believed that by separating these children from their families and communities, culture and land, that assimilation
Assessment 2: Essay
Topic: The Stolen Generations
ELA: Angela Perry
Written By: Samantha Morrison
Student Number: 100169529
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following assessment may contain images and names of deceased persons.
This essay will define and discuss the event of the Stolen Generations. It will analyse the nature of the affects and impacts of the event on Indigenous Australians, reflect on the relevance of educators having an understanding of this historical event and lastly will discuss how the event undermines and supports the use of Indigenous language.
The ‘Stolen Generations’ is a term used to describe the actions of which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, mostly children, were taken away from their families between the 1890’s and the 1970’s (Korff, 2014). Children were taken to institutions or adopted by non-Indigenous families and most never saw their families again. In the early 1900’s the Australian public was persuaded into believing Aboriginal children were deprived, mistreated and at risk in their own communities. People believed that Aboriginal children would receive a better education, a more loving and caring family and a more civilised upbringing if adopted by white families or government institutions. In reality Aboriginal children were being removed so that they could be introduced to ‘Anglo values’ and ‘work habits’. Their reasoning behind this was that Indigenous children would be employed by colonial settlers, and would stop their biological parents, families and communities from passing on their culture, language and identity to them (Nsdc.org.au, n.d.). The children that the authorities targeted for removal had one parent that was white and the other was Indigenous. The Aboriginal protection boards believed that by separating these children from their families and communities, culture and land, that assimilation
References: Asca.org.au,. Childhood trauma and abuse can have many effects on adult health. Retrieved 10 January 2015, from http://www.asca.org.au/About/Resources/Abuse-related-conditions.aspx Davenport-West, R. (2009). Between Two Worlds Understanding the Stolen Generations.http://www.stolengenerationsvictoria.org.au/. Retrieved 8 January 2015, from http://www.stolengenerationsvictoria.org.au/sitebuilder/careers/knowledge/asset/files/54/stolengen_btwa5%283%29.pdf Korff, J. (2014). A guide to Australia’s Stolen Generations. Creative Spirits. Retrieved 7 January 2015, from http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/politics/a-guide-to-australias-stolen-generations Lemetyinen, H. (2012). Language Acquisition Theory | Simply Psychology. Simplypsychology.org. Retrieved 11 January 2015, from http://www.simplypsychology.org/language.html McKeich, A. (2006). Stolen Generation 's Victoria- Second Step (1st ed., pp. 1-78). Retrieved from http://www.stolengenerationsvictoria.org.au/sitebuilder/careers/knowledge/asset/files/42/secondsteppdf.pdf Nichol,. (2011). INDIGENOUS PEDAGOGY AND DEVELOPMENT (1st ed., pp. 103-125). Retrieved from http://download.springer.com.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/static/pdf/248/chp%253A10.1007%252F978-94-6091-373-0_7.pdf?auth66=1421260076_a59bca1529e05345a224769fa4a52033&ext=.pdf Nsdc.org.au,. The History of the Stolen Generations - National Sorry Day Committee. Retrieved 7 January 2015, from http://www.nsdc.org.au/stolen-generations/history-of-the-stolen-generations/the-history-of-the-stolen-generations Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in kindergarten. (2005) (1st ed.). Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/parents/support/supportingatsikinder.pdf Yunkaporta, T. (2009). 8ways - Aboriginal pedagogy research review. 8ways.wikispaces.com. Retrieved 11 January 2015, from https://8ways.wikispaces.com/Aboriginal+pedagogy+research+review