Government Policy Of Assimilation And The Loss Of Cultural Identity

The Assimilation policy was a government policy designed to absorb Aboriginal people into white society through the process of forcibly removing children from their families. This government policy was not introduced until the 1950’s but was proposed through the belief that the Aboriginal people were allowed to “ die out,” through a process of natural elimination, or, where possible were able to assimilate into the white community. As a result, for the Aboriginal people assimilation meant the loss of their culture, beliefs, languages and most importantly their family as they were forced to adopt the white culture in Australia.

The loss of cultural identity is a negative experience that was endured by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders who were forcibly eliminated from their families under the policy of

Aboriginals losing their cultural identity negatively impacted them because when the State government agencies removed them from their homes , they were then taught to reject their Indigenous heritage and most importantly were then forced to adopt white culture. This may of caused them to feel ashamed of their Indigenous culture as the stolen children were never told who their ancestors plus, who their biological families were. In addition, another negative experience under the policy of Assimilation that influenced many Aboriginals in losing their entire culture was being forbidden to speak their traditional languages. That is, because when the Aboriginal children were adopted by white families, their names were often changed meaning that they had to get rid of their traditional Indigenous name that their families had given them at birth