| Australian Aboriginal Genocide: Forced Removal - Stolen Generation |
Brown Skin Baby - (Forced Removal)
Bob Randall is an Yankunytjatjara Elder and a traditional owner
of Uluru (Ayers Rock).
In the early 70's Bob's song, "Brown Skin Baby
(They Took Me Away)" became an anthem for the Aboriginal people. He is
the author of two books: his autobiography Songman and a children's
book Tracker Tjginji, and is the subject of the recent documentary film
Kanyini.
Learn More: See Kanyini and visit globalonenessproject.org.
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Excerpt from U.N. Convention on the
Prevention of Genocide
Definition and Punishment of Genocide (ratified by UN, including Australia, in 1948):Article
II: In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts
committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national,
ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:
- Killing members of
the group;
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the
group;
- Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life
calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
;
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
- Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
Article
III: The following acts shall be punishable:
- Genocide;
- Conspiracy to commit genocide;
- Direct and public incitement to
commit genocide;
- Attempt to commit genocide;
- Complicity in
genocide.
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Federal Apology
(Feb. 13, 2007) issued by Prime Minister Rudd of Australia
"Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.
We reflect on their past mistreatment.
We
reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen
Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.
The
time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's
history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with
confidence to the future.
We apologise for the laws and policies
of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound
grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We
apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children from their families, their communities and their
country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen
Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we
say sorry.
To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.
And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.
We
the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be
received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of
the nation.
For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.
We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.
A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.
A
future where we harness the determination of all Australians,
Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in
life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.
A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.
A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.
A
future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal
partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping
the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia."
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Learn More: For edutainment of Australian Aborigines and their story of forced removal genocide with Deborah Dupre', former consultant to the World Health Organization, resident of Australia of 17 years and human rights acitivist of 30 years, phone 310.310.1997. Dupre' is presenting the Award-winning Australia movie, Kanyini (Connectedness) to communities acorss America. With her rich personal background of living and working with Australian Aborigines for years plus her academic and research background, Dupre' presents an unforgettable, valuable learning experience, regardless of audience age or venue.
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