SOR1: Dispossession

Last updated on August 24, 2021 2 min read Year 12, SOR

Separation from the Land

For Aboriginal people, loss of Land is the same as loss of spiritual identity
- Results in inability to fulfill ritual responsibilities, and a loss of purpose
Land is inextricably connected to kinship, ceremonial life, family connections and relationships
Loss of land resulted in the destruction of totemic responsibilities

1788: settlement and establishment of Terra Nullius, marked the start of the removal of tribes from the Land
1820s-1850s: government and churches established missions and reserves
Imposed Chrisitianity and European culture/lifestyle
Objected to most aspects of Aboriginal spirituality

Destroyed kinship and the identity of Aboriginal communities
Wiped out thousands of years of stories and culture, which is irretrievable without those kinship ties

1838: Policy of Protection forcibly placed Aboriginal people on missions and reserves, which resulted in the mass dispossession of Aboriginal people
- Deliberate attempt to destroy Aboriginal spirituality
- Resulted in the destruction of kinship, traditional gender roles, culture, language, etc.
1901: Policy of Assimilation removed mixed Aboriginal people from kinship groups
- Assimilated mixed children were not permitted to visit Aboriginal relatives, which was detrimental to the all-encompassing nature of Aboriginal spirituality

From the late 1800s to the 1970s, forced separation of Aboriginal children from their families was Government policy
As many as 100000 children were removed in a deliberate attempt to remove their Aboriginal identity and deteriorate the Aboriginal culture
Bringing Them Home Report:
Revealed the loss of Heritage, Culture, Language, Land and Community
Made 54 recommendations to the government, e.g. 7a, which recommended for a National Sorry Day to be held annually
Life expectancy: Aboriginal life expectancy is 20 years below the Australian average
Indicative of a poor, subordinate class in Australian society
Caused by the loss of land and disconnection with family and kinship groups