The Stolen Generations

1910's - 1970's

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners are advised that the following page contains images and voices of deceased persons.

Lesson 1 - The stolen Generations

to know - the stolen generations

to be able to - explain the impacts of the Stolen Generation

Stolen Generation children at the Kahlin Compound in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia in 1921.

Source - Northern Territory Library

overview of the stolen generations

During the 1910's to the 1970's, governments, churches and welfare bodies forcibly removed many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and homes. These children became known as the Stolen Generations.

It is estimated that 1 in 3 Indigenous children were removed from their families and homes.

They were allowed to do this due to government 'protection policies', which have left a legacy of trauma and loss that continues to affect First Nations communities, families and individuals today.

The purpose of the removal of First Nations children from their communities was to assimilate them into white society.

relevance

This is a scene from The Rabbit Proof Fence (2002).

The movie is based on the true story of Molly Craig, her sister Daisy and their cousin Gracie. They were forcibly removed from their mothers in 1931, escaped from a mission and found their way home.

This is the scene when they were taken.

Newspaper Extract - Homes Are Sought for These Children, 1934

Source - National Archives of Australia

A photograph and description from A O Neville's 1947 book Australia's Coloured Minority demonstrates how he believed 'Aboriginal blood' could be bred out.

Source - A O Neville (Public Domain)

policies that allowed the stolen generations to occur

Aboriginal Protection Act 1869 - This act made it lawful for the Governor to dictate where First Nations people could and could not live. This act also stated that these 'protection' policies applied to anyone with First Nations heritage.

The Assimilation Policy 1937 - First Nations people were to be assimilated into white society whether they liked it or not. If First Nations people were not going to 'die out,' they would be absorbed into white society.

Children were still being removed from their homes/families during the 1970's.

task 1 - faye clayton's story

Faye Clayton was a member of The Stolen Generation and speaks about her experience.

While watching, think about what experiences she went through and the impact on her life.

The bringing them home report (1997)

In 1995 the Federal Attorney-General launched a inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.

The outcome of this inquiry was The Bringing Them Home Report (1997).

The report contained 54 recommendations on how to address and heal the impacts of The Stolen Generations and the policies that allowed it to happen.

The report was also the first time that the Stolen Generations had been acknowledged officially by a national inquiry.

The cover of The Bringing Them Home Report

Source - Australian Human Rights Commission

This is The Apology made by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on the 13th of February, 2008.

the apology (2008)

One of the recommendations of The Bringing Them Home Report was for the Australian Govenrment to formally apologise for the forced removal of First Nations children from their families, land and homes.

The report was published in 1997 and The Apology was made in 2008.

Task 2 - Sources on The Stolen Generation

Below are sources that relate to The Stolen Generation. Analyse the sources by answering the questions below. These sources will help you understand specifc people, policies, impacts and events relating to The Stolen Generation.

Newspaper Extract - Homes Are Sought for These Children, 1934

Source - National Archives of Australia

Source 1 - A newspaper article titled Homes are Sought for these Children published in 1934. An unknown person has written the following on the newspaper.

"I like the little girl in centre of group, but if taken by anyone else, any of the others would do, as long as they are strong."

Read the annotation on the newspaper before answering these questions.

1 - What did the newspaper article say would happen to the children if charities didn't find homes for them? Why was this wrong?

2 - Using your answer for Question 1, what is the purpose of the newspaper article?

3 - Which girl did the person who wrote on the newspaper prefer?

4 - What did the person who wrote on the newspaper value?

Higher Order Thinking

5 - Using your answer for Question 4, why did people want to remove First Nations Children from their homes? What could they use them for?

6 - Why is Source 1 useful for understanding the impact of The Stolen Generation?

Source 2 - An extract from The Aboriginal Welfare Conference of Commonwealth and State Authorities conference papers (1937)

This is an extract from a conference paper from The Aboriginal Welfare Conference of Commonwealth and State Authorities which formed The Assimilation Policy (1937).

I have copied the extract into plainer text to make it easier to read.

1 - What did the people in charge of 'protecting' First Nations people believe in 1937?

2 - Why is this source useful for understanding the policy of assimilation and The Stolen Generation?

Destiny of the Race, extract from The Aboriginal Welfare Conference of Commonwealth and State Authorities conference papers

Source - The Aboriginal Welfare Conference of Commonwealth and State Authorities

A photograph and extract from A O Neville's 1947 book Australia's Coloured Minority demonstrates how he believed 'Aboriginal blood' could be bred out.

Source - A O Neville (Public Domain)

Source 3 - Extracts from A O Neville's 1947 book Australia's Coloured Minority.

Auber O. Neville (1875–1954) was an Australian public servant. In 1915, he was the Chief Protector of Aborigines and helped shape Aboriginal policy in Western Australia.

He separated Aboriginal children from their parents and trained them for domestic and unskilled labour. He supported the “absorption” policy of those that were half-Aboriginal.

Read both extracts before answering these questions.

You need to 'read' the photo from right to left. The first person Neville is talking about is the woman on the right.

1 - What was Neville trying to demonstrate in the photograph?

2 - What did Neville believe?

3 - What did he compare the removal and assimilation of First Nations people to?

4 - Why is Source 3 useful for understanding The Stolen Generation?

Source 4 - The Exemption Certificate of Cecil Robert Clayton (1955) courtesy of Aunty Fay Moseley, Wiradjuri.

Read this source before answering the questions below.

1 - Who was Saxby? What was his title?

2 - How old was Cecil when this certificate was written?

3 - How many children did he have? What would be one impact if he was taken?

4 - What were the three reasons Saxby approved Calyton's exepmtion?

5 - Why do you think Saxby approved the exemption?

6 - What is this source?

7 - Why is this source useful?

Aborigines Welfare Board Exemption Certificate 1955

Source - Courtesy of Aunty Fay Moseley, Wiradjuri

FayMoseley's account of being forcibly removed from her family during The Stolen Generation

Source - Courtesy of Aunty Fay Moseley, Wiradjuri

Source 5 - The account of Fay Moseley (published in 2020), a member of The Stolen Generation and the daughter of Cecil Clayton.

This source links to Source 4. Read this source before answering the questions below.

1 - When was Moseley taken?

2 - How does Moseley demonstrate the power of Aborigines Welfare Board?

3 - What was the purpose of Moseley's account?

4 - Why is this source useful for understanding the impact of The Stolen Generation?

Source 6 - Two recommendations from The Bringing Them Home Report (1997)

Read this source before answering the questions below.

Recommendation 3 refers to recognition, 8a refers to education.

1 - Identify three ways the Australian Government had to recognise the impacts of The Stolen Generation?

2 - How does Recommendation 8a refer to you right now?

3 - What was the purpose of The Bringing Them Home Report?

4 - Why is the The Bringing Them Home Report useful for understanding The Stolen Generation?

Recommendation 3 and 8a from The Bringing Them Home Report (1997)
Source - Australian Human Rights Commission

The Apology.pdf

The Apology (and in plain text)
Source - Parliment of Australia

Source 7 - The Apology, Kevin Rudd (2008)

Read this source before answering the questions below. The first page is actual Apology document, the second page is it in plain text for you to read.

1 - How did Rudd begin The Apology?

2 - How did Rudd describe The Stolen Generation?

3 - Identify the two main things the Australian Government apologised for when Rudd said, "We apologise."

4 - Identify the two main things the Australian Government apologised for when Rudd said, "We say sorry."

5 - Why did the Apology progess towards Reconciliation?

6 - Why is The Apology useful for understanding the impact of The Stolen Generation?

homework

History has more meaning beyond the classroom

Ask someone you know what they know about the stolen generation

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