Taylor Thompson THE STOLEN GENERATION

Overview Definition of the term Genocide Brief overview of the Stolen Generation Arguments supporting the claim of genocide - Forcible removal and transfer of Aboriginal children - government intent -attempted eradication of native culture

Genocide definition Article II: In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

The Stolen Generation Late 1800’s – 1970’s Children were forcibly removed from their communities and families Not allowed any contact with their parents

Arguments supporting Claim of Genocide Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group Intent by the Government to dilute or forcibly assimilate the Aboriginal people of Australia Attempted eradication of native culture

The Forcible Removal of Aboriginal Children in Australia Who was taken? -mostly girls -those of mixed race -1 in 3 (100,000) Why were they taken? -“protection” --Assimilation -“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”

How were they Taken? -With the aid of the police, hospital, social services -under the guise of protecting the children -only reason needed was the classification as the parents being Aboriginal Where were they taken? -Foster homes -Reform boarding schools designed to teach them “white Ways”

Government intent Aboriginal protection Act 1869 Aborigines Protection Amending Act Gave authority to remove Aboriginal Children without having to establish in court that the children were neglected

sources 1. Cuthbert, Denise, and Marian Quartly. "Forced Child Removal and the Politics of National Apologies in Australia." American Indian Quarterly Spring 2013: Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Mar Dafler, Jeffrey R. "SOCIAL DARWINISM AND THE LANGUAGE OF RACIAL OPPRESSION: Australia's Stolen Generations." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, Apr Web. 21 Mar Murphy, Michael. "Apology, Recognition, and Reconciliation." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, Mar Web. 21 Mar 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 Web. 21 Mar Grieves, Vicki. "Orphaned by the Colour of My Skin: A Stolen Generation Story."Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, July Web. 21 Mar Robinson, Shirleene, and Jessica Paten. "The Question of Genocide and Indigenous Child Removal: The Colonial Australian Context." Academic Search Complete. EBSCO, Dec Web. 21 Mar