M2 - Learner Manual

7.2. Interpretations of Protection and Assimilation

Indigenous and non-indigenous interpretations of protection and assimilation was of course very different in many instances, with Aboriginal peoples viewing protection and assimilation, first as a physical prison, and later a policy prison. So whilst Aboriginal peoples were ‘protected’ on reserves or missions many of these felt and were run under prison like conditions. After 1930’s with people moving off missions in to larger regional and urban centres assimilation was still a symbolic prison as they were never really free, and still very much under the control of respective government institutions and policies.