A Day of Apologies in Australia

Tevita went to a conference in Canberra, Australia for the Association of Social Anthropologists of Oceania. It is a conference he attends every year but this year was extra special. He was able to attend the ceremony and formal apology to the Aboriginal people from the Australian government. Specifically, regarding Australia's treatment of the "Stolen Generations". These are some of the many photos he took.

Aboriginal Tribal Flag

Here are some survivors from the Stolen Generations.

Who are the Stolen Generations?

Between 1910 and 1970 up to 100,000 Aboriginal children were taken forcibly or under duress from their families by police or welfare officers . Most were under 5 years old. There was rarely any judicial process. To be Aboriginal was enough. They are known as the ‘Stolen Generations’

Why were they taken?


They were taken because it was Federal and State Government policy that Aboriginal children - especially those of mixed Aboriginal and European descent - should be removed from their parents.

• The main motive was to ‘assimilate’ Aboriginal children into European society over one or two generations by denying and destroying their Aboriginality.
• Speaking their languages and practising their ceremonies was forbidden
• They were taken miles from their country, some overseas
• Parents were not told where their children were and could not trace them
• Children were told that they were orphans
• Family visits were discouraged or forbidden; letters were destroyed.

What happened to them?

• Most were raised in Church or state institutions. Some were fostered or adopted by white parents.
• Many suffered physical and sexual abuse. Food and living conditions were poor.
• They received little education, and were expected to go into low grade domestic and farming work.

This was the name of one of the homes the boys were sent to. There are heinous stories about the treatment of these boys. Needless to say, some survivors of the Stolen Generations suffered depression, mental illness, addiction, and incarceration in their adult years.

More photos Tevita took of this historical event:


The unfinished business of searching for great grandparents, grandparents, aunties and uncles, sisters and brothers continues this day. In the meantime, it takes courage for a country to be accountable for a dark era in their history. I hope we all learn from this apology and more importantly, may we stand up for disenfranchised and enslaved peoples all over our world .