In recent months the Idle No More
movement, which originated among First Nations activists in Canada and soon
spread to the United States, coupled with the increasing prominence of First
Nations and Native American voices among those protesting construction of the
Keystone XL and Enbridge Northern Gateway pipelines, have helped to raise
awareness of the many injustices which fill the history of relationships
between the U.S. and Canadian governments and the Aboriginal peoples of North
America. I wrote this article in
February 2008 when the Australian government was preparing to issue its first formal apology to Aboriginal people for the decades-long practice of forcibly removing
Aboriginal children from their family homes and placing them to be raised by
white families. Current events make it
apparent that it is still relevant in February 2013.
The Australian
policy, in effect from 1915 to 1969, had been intended to compel assimilation
of the indigenous people into the dominant white culture. The wording of the apology was worked out in
consultation with Aboriginal leaders. It
acknowledged the great harm done by past governments while refraining from
ascribing any guilt to current political leaders. Both sides were hopeful that this action would
permit some healing and an improvement in relations between the Aborigines and
the Australian government.
