M2 - Learner Manual

9.5. Stolen Generation and Coping Mechanisms

As adults, many of the Stolen Generation have come to seek out their families, upon learning that they have Indigenous ancestry. They seek to know their families, who they really are and what it means to be Indigenous.

Over many years, Indigenous people have developed strategies to cope with the effects of the Stolen Generation. This includes the establishment of organisations and services, specifically set up for returning Indigenous people to families and country. In NSW some of these projects and services include:

·         Brewarrina Central School and Bourke High School

·         Cootamundra Girls Corporation

·         Link-Up NSW Aboriginal Corporation

·         Winangali Marumali, Taree

·         Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation

Strategies developed by these services and programs include:

·         education around the stolen generation

·         restoration (that is taking people back to country and reuniting families)

·         reuniting people who were in the homes

·         art therapy programs

·         healing camps.

There are many other groups and individuals around the State and the country who work to unite Indigenous people in their everyday life. Some of this important work is done by volunteers, helping to support people, additional to the work of corporations or official services.