DIPLOMARBEIT Titel der Diplomarbeit „Representations of the “Stolen Generations” in Selected Autobiographies of Australian Aboriginal Women“ Verfasserin Claudia Klinger angestrebter akademischer Grad Magistra der Philosophie (Mag.phil.) Wien, 2014 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt: A 190 344 299 Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt: UF Englisch UF Psychologie und Philosophie Betreuer: Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Franz-Karl Wöhrer Declaration of authenticity I confirm to have conceived and written this diploma thesis in English all by myself. Quotations from other authors are all clearly marked and acknowledged in the bibliographical references, either in the footnotes or within the text. Any ideas borrowed and/or passages paraphrased from the works of other authors have been truthfully acknowledged and identified in the footnotes. Claudia Klinger Hinweis Diese Diplomarbeit hat nachgewiesen, dass die betreffende Kandidatin oder der betreffende Kandidat befähigt ist, wissenschaftliche Themen selbstständig sowie inhaltlich und methodisch vertretbar zu bearbeiten. Da die Korrekturen der/des Beurteilenden nicht eingetragen sind und das Gutachten nicht beiliegt, ist daher nicht erkenntlich mit welcher Note diese Arbeit abgeschlossen wurde. Das Spektrum reicht von sehr gut bis genügend. Die Habilitierten des Instituts für Anglistik und Amerikanistik bitten diesen Hinweis bei der Lektüre zu beachten. [U]nless the great symbolism of reconciliation is accompanied by an even greater substance, it is little more than a clanging gong. It is not sentiment that makes history; it is our actions that make history.1 1 As said by former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the course of the federal “Apology to Australia's Indigenous Peoples” on February 13th, 2008. Table of contents Introduction...................................................................................................................1 Part one: Historical development of the Stolen Generations.............................................5 1.1 History of Australia.................................................................................................7 1.1.1 Terra Australis.................................................................................................7 1.1.2 Terra Nullius....................................................................................................8 1.1.3 Colonisation....................................................................................................8 1.1.4 Conquest of the continent................................................................................9 1.1.5 Spread of settlement and frontier conflicts....................................................11 1.1.6 Native police.................................................................................................13 1.1.7 Black labour..................................................................................................16 1.1.8 Abduction of Aboriginal children..................................................................21 1.2 Protection of Aborigines.......................................................................................24 1.2.1 White supremacy...........................................................................................26 1.2.2 Merging and absorption................................................................................28 1.2.3 A dying race...................................................................................................31 1.2.4 Segregation and child removal......................................................................33 1.2.5 Assimilation and child removal.....................................................................38 1.3 Twentieth-century child removal policies.............................................................41 1.3.1 Biological absorption....................................................................................43 1.3.2 Child welfare legislation...............................................................................46 1.3.3 Adoption and foster care...............................................................................50 1.3.4 Towards self-determination and self-management........................................52 1.4 Australia at the turn of the new millennium..........................................................55 1.4.1 Reconciliation................................................................................................55 1.4.2 Stolen Generations court cases......................................................................56 1.4.3 Federal apology to the Stolen Generations...................................................58 1.4.4 Building a stronger future.............................................................................61 Part two: Autobiographies of Australian Aboriginal women...........................................65 2.1 Glenyse Ward........................................................................................................67 2.1.1 Author's biography........................................................................................67 2.1.2 Summary of Unna You Fullas.......................................................................69 2.1.3 Summary of Wandering Girl.........................................................................71 2.1.4 Analysis of Unna You Fullas and Wandering Girl........................................74 2.1.4.1 Layout and language..............................................................................74 2.1.4.2 Voice and narrative perspective.............................................................75 2.1.4.3 The mission as home.............................................................................77 2.1.4.4 The hostile public realm........................................................................80 2.1.4.5 Isolation.................................................................................................82 2.2 Rita Huggins.........................................................................................................83 2.2.1 Author's biography........................................................................................83 2.2.2 Summary of Auntie Rita................................................................................84 2.2.3 Analysis of Auntie Rita..................................................................................90 2.2.3.1 Layout....................................................................................................90 2.2.3.2 Inter-generational collaboration and separation of voices.....................90 2.2.3.3 Rita's voice—Jackie's voice...................................................................91 2.2.3.4 Generation conflicts...............................................................................92 2.2.3.5 Disagreement on readership and topic..................................................93 2.2.3.6 Healing..................................................................................................94 2.2.3.7 Omissions and silences..........................................................................96 2.2.3.8 Identity and heritage..............................................................................98 2.2.3.9 Searching government files...................................................................99 2.3 Doreen Kartinyeri...............................................................................................103 2.3.1 Author's biography......................................................................................103 2.3.2 Summary of My Ngarrindjeri Calling........................................................107 2.3.3 Analysis of My Ngarrindjeri Calling..........................................................116 2.3.3.1 Layout and co-authorship....................................................................116 2.3.3.2 Voice....................................................................................................117 2.3.3.3 A piece of Australian Aboriginal history.............................................118 2.3.3.4 At the mercy of state authority............................................................120 2.3.3.5 Effects of child removal......................................................................123 2.3.3.6 Identity and genealogy........................................................................125 2.3.3.7 Disruption of communities..................................................................127 2.3.3.8 Loss of traditional cultural knowledge................................................128 Conclusion................................................................................................................132 Bibliography.............................................................................................................137 Index.........................................................................................................................145 Abstract.....................................................................................................................152 Zusammenfassung.....................................................................................................154 Curriculum vitae.......................................................................................................156 1 Introduction In 1981 the historian Peter Read published a ground-breaking work in which he attempted to document the devastating