During the years 1910 and 1970 up to 100,000 Aboriginal children were taken forcibly from their families by police or welfare officers, because of a Federal and State Government edict. The main motive was to ‘assimilate’ Aboriginal children into European society over one or two generations by denying and destroying their Aboriginality.
This issue is also discussed in the novel “Rabbit-Proof Fence” by Doris Pilkington, which tells a story about three girls who were also uprooted from their community and taken to a state settlement about 1,500 miles away from their home. In this reality-based story the girls escaped from their internment camp and tried to run back home by following the rabbit-proof fence.
My term paper is divided into four chapters. In the first one a short outline of British colonisation in Australia and its impacts on the Aborigines will be given. The second chapter is about the mentioned book and its author and the third part of this term paper analyses some extracts from Doris Pilkington’s novel and proves their verity with historical documents until it finally comes to its conclusion in the last chapter which tells us something about the current situation of the Aborigines and the reactions of the Australian government.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 British colonisation in Australia and its impacts on the Aborigines
2.1 British rule
2.2 The “Half-Caste” Problem and the “Stolen Generations”
3 “Rabbit-Proof Fence” – the book
3.1 The author and an introduction of the book
3.2 Abstract of the story
3.3 The importance of the book/Noyce’s film
4 Selected scenes from the book/film and where they meet reality
4.1 The takeaway
4.2 The living conditions
4.3 The punishment
4.4 The selection
5 Conclusion
5.1 Summary
5.2 Reactions of the Australian Government and other institutions
5.3 The current situation of the Aborigines
5.4 The Future “Dreamtime”
6 List of Literature and Sources
Objectives and Topics
This term paper examines the historical treatment of Australian Aborigines by the British colonial power, specifically focusing on the policy of removing mixed-descent children from their families. By analyzing the narrative of Doris Pilkington’s novel "Rabbit-Proof Fence" in comparison with official historical documents and the "Bringing Them Home" report, the work illustrates the systemic abuses and the struggle for identity experienced by the "Stolen Generations."
- British colonization and its detrimental impact on Aboriginal life.
- The policy of forced assimilation and the "Stolen Generations."
- Verification of literary scenes against historical records and government reports.
- Social and political consequences, including reconciliation efforts and the current situation of Aboriginal Australians.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 The living conditions
The children at the settlement had no easy life. During the day, they had to go to school (p. 76) or to church and obey the orders of the attendants and for the night “they were placed in an overcrowded dormitory” (p. 72). They had to forget their native language and to “talk English all the time” (p. 72) instead.
"The inmates, not students, slept on cyclone beds with government-issue blankets. There were no sheets or pillow slips except on special occasions when there was an inspection by prominent officials. Then they were removed as soon as the visitors left the settlement and stored away until the next visit. On the windows there were colourful curtains, just wire screens and iron bars. It looked more like a concentration camp than a residential school for Aboriginal children" (p. 72).
The third chapter of the “Bringing Them Home”-Report contains experiences of children who lived in such settlements. Their statements are examples to show that the living conditions in these settlements had really been that bad. In the report it is not mentioned who gave these statements - each has just an evidence number.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the "Stolen Generations" and introduces the novel "Rabbit-Proof Fence" as a lens through which this historical trauma is examined.
2 British colonisation in Australia and its impacts on the Aborigines: Details the history of European settlement and the subsequent implementation of laws aimed at controlling and assimilating Aboriginal people.
3 “Rabbit-Proof Fence” – the book: Profiles the author Doris Pilkington and presents a summary of the narrative alongside the cultural significance of both the book and the subsequent film.
4 Selected scenes from the book/film and where they meet reality: Compares specific fictional depictions of abduction, settlement life, and discrimination with authentic historical evidence and government testimonies.
5 Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, discusses reconciliation attempts by the government, and reflects on the contemporary socio-economic status of Aboriginal Australians.
6 List of Literature and Sources: Compiles the citations and references used throughout the research paper.
Keywords
Rabbit-Proof Fence, Doris Pilkington, Stolen Generations, Aboriginal Australians, British Colonization, Forced Assimilation, Bringing Them Home, Reconciliation, Human Rights, Moore River Native Settlement, Half-caste, Government Policy, Indigenous History, Discrimination, Kevin Rudd.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this term paper?
This paper examines how the British colonial power in Australia treated Aborigines, with a specific focus on the policy that forcibly removed children of mixed Aboriginal and European descent from their families between 1910 and 1970.
What historical period does this research cover?
The work primarily focuses on the era known as the "Stolen Generations," roughly spanning from 1910 to 1970, and includes an analysis of reconciliation efforts up to the formal government apology in 2008.
What is the central research objective?
The objective is to analyze the historical authenticity of Doris Pilkington's novel "Rabbit-Proof Fence" by cross-referencing its narrative with official documents like the "Bringing Them Home" report.
What methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a comparative method, analyzing literary excerpts from Pilkington's novel and contrasting them with historical records, government archives, and testimonies from the 1997 "Bringing Them Home" report.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the history of British colonization, the forced removal of children, the daily lives of children in internment settlements, the types of punishments enforced, and the government’s selection process for assimilation.
Which key terms are essential to understanding the text?
Crucial terms include the "Stolen Generations," "Half-caste," "Assimilation," "Rabbit-Proof Fence," and the concept of "Dreamtime" within Aboriginal culture.
How does the author verify the "takeaway" scenes from the novel?
The author compares the fictional abduction of the three girls with the documented fate of Nanna Fejo, demonstrating that the methods of removal, such as the use of trucks and stockmen, were common historical realities.
How does the author illustrate the living conditions in settlements?
The author quotes confidential evidence from the "Bringing Them Home" report to corroborate the novel’s descriptions of overcrowded dormitories, language bans, and systemic abuse, showing that the book's depiction is grounded in historical fact.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Benjamin Roßkopf (Autor:in), 2009, “Rabbit-Proof Fence” as an example of how Australian Aborigines were treated by the British colonial power, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/282790
