Reference no: EM133221760

Assignment - Aboriginal Children Response

Write a 100-word answer to the accompanying article and refer to it as necessary in Harvard style and a reference list is provided.

The removal of Aboriginal children has generational effects. There are currently many individuals of aboriginal decent that have little to no connection to the biological family and their community. It can be seen in the case of Ken, who was 'adopted' by non-Indigenous people, that he had no contact with his birth family and the community that comes with that. He was also isolated from other indigenous people as his adoptive parents avoided them because the stories told about them were so negative. This caused Ken to become isolated and alienated from his culture and was left to deal with racism by himself, as he had no friends or family he could identify with (Gerrett-Magee 2022). A similar situation occurred with Mary Terszak, who was taken from her birth family as a child. A common theme of child removal is that they feel like they lack self-esteem and confidence and often that they do not have an identity. Mary believes that due to the brainwashing performed on her as a child she cannot openly say that she is an Aboriginal person (Terszak 2015). Overall the impacts of child removal are wide, it has caused a great deal of pain across generations, from the parents whose child was taken, to the children who were taken and their children. It has caused a large portion of a generation of Aboriginal people who have little to no connection to their family, community and land, which can lead to a decrease in mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and social health and wellbeing.

References -

Gerrett-Magee R Week 6: Protection [class slides], Introduction to Aboriginal Studies IND101, Deakin University.

Terszak, M., 2015. Orphaned by the colour of my skin: a stolen generation story. Routledge.