What are the Stolen Generations?
The Stolen Generations are a group of Australian Aboriginals who were taken from their families according to Australian government policy between 1910 and 1970. While it is unclear exactly how many children were taken from their homes, some estimate that the numbers could be between 1/3 and 1/10 of all Indigenous Australian children born during that time. Most often, the children who were taken had some non-indigenous ancestry and were five years old or younger. They were taken from their homes without parental consent and forced into orphanages, foster homes or labour camps, where they were trained as domestic servants or farm hands. No matter where they were, though, these children were always placed under the supervision of non-indigenous Australians. Why were they taken? According to federal policy, the Stolen Generations were taken from their homes and communities ‘for their own good’. White Australians believed that it would be beneficial for Aboriginal children with some ‘white
