stolen
... role in making the experiences of the stolen generations more widely known, both in Australia and overseas. The removal of Aboriginal children from their families, and their placements in institutions and white homes throughout much of the 20 th Century, led to suffering, loss and trauma for many Aboriginal people. Though it was for a long time suppressed, the issue of the stolen generations is one of the most confronting in Australia’s history. Addressing its histories and effects is crucial to achieving reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australia. CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND The Stolen Generation: an Historical Outline The removal of Aboriginal children from their families began in the 1800s and was carried out most systematically between 1910 and 1970. It occurred in tandem with the assimilation policy, which was officially adopted from 1937, and it often combined the resources and ideologies of governments and churches. The intention was to make Aboriginal culture and identity disappear. Thus Aboriginal children, especially children of mixed-race parentage, were brought up as white members of society and denied contact with their Aboriginal culture and families. The problems faced by the stolen generations have proved to be profound, widespread and long lasting. Those children placed in institutions were depriv...