Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Im having heaps of trouble with this subject. finding it very difficult..

What was the overall impact of early colonisation on the ATSI people?

What was meant by the term 'assimilation' in relation to ATSI people and how was the policy of assimilation enacted?

Thank you

You could include:

- Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suffered physical or sexual abuse in institutions, or lived in servitude or poverty as labourers and domestic workers.

- Many lost their language and cultural identity as they were expected to adopt European dress, language, religion, lifestyle and cultural values.

- Many were prevented from having any contact with their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family, even by letter - some later tried to reunite with their families, with mixed results.

Ref: European Colonisation on ATSI Communities

and

Assimilation

Hope this helps,

,
Lorina

Hi I had these questions too.. I have got if marked off so I am posting the answer. Hope it was helpful.

What was the overall impact of early colonisation on the ATSI people?

- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were forced off their traditional lands, away from their active hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
- Some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups resisted the seizure of their lands, resulting in violence.
- Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died from infectious diseases brought into the country by Europeans.
- Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were moved to missions or reserves, where they were forbidden to speak their own language or maintain their cultural practices.
- Laws were enacted, limited the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, segregating them from other Australians and giving them little or no self-determination.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly removed from their families and communities, to be raised in institutions or by foster families of European background.
- Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suffered physical or sexual abuse in institutions, or lived in servitude or poverty as labourers and domestic workers.
- Many lost their language and cultural identity as they were expected to adopt European dress, language, religion, lifestyle and cultural values.
- Many were prevented from having any contact with their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family, even by letter - some later tried to reunite with their families, with mixed results.


What was meant by the term 'assimilation' in relation to ATSI people and how was the policy of assimilation enacted?
'Assimilation' in relation to ATSI people - 'The conference believes that the destiny of the natives of aboriginal origin, but not of the full bloods, lies in their ultimate absorption by the people of the Commonwealth, and it therefore recommends that all efforts be directed to that end' .
In 1937, the Commonwealth Government held a national conference on Aboriginal affairs which agreed that Aboriginal people 'not of full blood' should be absorbed or assimilated into the wider population. The aim of assimilation was to make the 'Aboriginal problem' gradually disappear so that Aboriginal people would lose their identity in the wider community. Protection and assimilation policies which impacted harshly on Indigenous people included separate education for Aboriginal children, town curfews, alcohol bans, no social security, lower wages, State guardianship of all Aboriginal children and laws that segregated Indigenous people into separate living areas, mainly on special reserves outside towns or in remote areas. Another major feature of the assimilation policy was stepping up the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families and their placement in white institutions or foster homes.