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Aboriginal history, after European settlement in Australia, is a rather dark, shameful area in our country’s history. Aboriginals were treated like criminals, and the white people of this country considered themselves far superior to and ‘coloured’ person, such as the natives to this land, Aboriginals. Aboriginals were not given the same rights and freedoms, there were far fewer opportunities for them, and more shockingly was the stolen generation. The 1967 Referendum though, led tom some drastic changes in the lives of Aboriginals. These changes involved not only steps taken by the Aboriginal people themselves, but also the Australian Government and Australian society. One such step was the Government finally ending its policy, in 1969, of taking Aboriginal children from their families. The ending of this policy, while never been able to make up for what was done in the past, meant an end for Aboriginal parents worrying about their children been taking away from them, and possibly never seeing them again. It was a big changing, and helped the Aboriginal community to gain some confidence. Another step, this one actually influenced by Aboriginal people themselves, is the Mabo court case. The win in the Mabo case meant some great changes for Aboriginals, because it meant the concept of Native Title now existed, and Aboriginals had a chance to claim land that had original been in their tribes and families. It also lead to other important rulings in the High Court. A third step, which may not seem so important to some, but something that has led to better lives for the Aboriginals, is the general acceptance of Aboriginals, and Australian society finally recognising them, and outright discrimination almost disappearing. Even with the many other steps taken by the government, and the Aboriginal people, without the general acceptance of the Australian people, much of what exists now, we would probably still be waiting for. Firstly, we have the Government finally, in 1969, ending its policy of taking Aboriginal children from their families.
Approximate Word count = 1296
Approximate Pages = 5.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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