Assimilation was a Government Policy implemented on Indigenous Australia from the 1930s to 1960s. The assimilation approach was first outlined at the Initial Conference of Commonwealth and State Aboriginal Authorities in 1937:
"This Conference believes that the destiny of the natives of aboriginal origin (sic), but not of the full blood, lies in their ultimate absorption by the people of the Commonwealth, and it therefore recommends that all efforts be directed to that end...The policy of the Commonwealth is to do everything possible to convert the half-caste into a white citizen.” The conference aimed to find a solution to the ‘Aboriginal problem’. Two things were decided at the conference; that Aboriginal people who were of mixed race should be integrated or ‘assimilated’ into the white population, and those not of mixed race should be segregated at reserves in remote areas. The goal of assimilation was the eventual disappearance of Aboriginal people as a race. This was attempted in two ways; biologically and socially. Biological integration aimed to remove all physical traits and features of Indigenous Australians, with a particular focus on skin colour. It was thought that, with Government control of reproduction, all physical signs of being Aboriginal would fade after seven generations. Social integration was also implemented. Social integration held the goal of changing all aspects of Aboriginal culture such as beliefs, traditions and social practices and shifting this culture into white culture. Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their families and any reference to their Aboriginal culture was banned, they were forced to adopt white culture. The focus of assimilation before World War Two was purely on absorbing Indigenous Australians into 'White Australia' so that all signs of their existence would eventually disappear. In post-war years, the focus of assimilation shifted from biological to social. The Government was no longer concerned with skin colour. At the 1961 Conference of Aboriginal Affairs, Assimilation was defined; ‘the policy of assimilation means that all Aborigines and part Aborigines are expected eventually to attain the same manner of living, rights and privileges, accepting the same responsibilities, observing the same customs and influenced by the same beliefs, hopes and loyalties as other Australians’. Although this may be viewed as progress towards the acceptance and equality of Aboriginal people, this new definition still promoted loss of culture and identity. It implied that Indigenous Australians would gain equality in 'White Australia' as long as they leave behind their own culture and identities and essentially become 'white'. Although eventually the Government stopped its attempts to shift all physical traits of an Aboriginal person, social integration was still very much implemented. The policy of assimilation aimed for the disappearing of Indigenous Australians as a race and contributed to the suffering experienced by many that still exists today. |
References
Chesterman, J and Douglas, H. (n.d.). Their Ultimate Absorption: Assimilation in 1930s Australia. Kooriweb. http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/resources/pdfs/185.pdf [Accessed 7 Aug. 2016] McGregor, R. (2007). Making One People: Whiteness, Australian Nationhood and Aboriginal Assimilation. 1st ed. (e-book). Melbourne: University of Melbourne. pp.71-79. Available at: http://search.informit.com.au.exproxy.slq.qld.gov.au/documentsummary;dn=832185169081232 Windschuttle, K. (n.d.). Breeding out the colour. [online] Stolengenerations.info. Available at: http://www.stolengenerations.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=140&Itemid=109 [Accessed 27 Aug. 2016]. Working With ATSI. (n.d.). Assimilation (1940s to the 1960s). Available at: http://www.workingwithatsi.info/content/history4.htm. [Accessed 3 Aug 2016] |