As some of you may know, I spent a semester studying in Australia. It was during this time that I learned what I am sharing in the post.

Back before the first World War, the children of the Native Australian aboriginals were taken against their will. The reason was pure and simple. They were aboriginal.

Most children were under the age of five, raised as foster children and placed in Church or state institutions with poor living conditions and little food. They also received very little education and had to work on farms and often as servants.

The saddest part was not the relocation or the hard work, even though that in itself is sad. No, the saddest thing was the severing of ties between the children and their families, the lost of language, identity, and native culture that left generations confused and lost.

It was not until the 1970s that this heartless activities halted. In the process, a large amount of the Aboriginal heritage was lost.

There is disagreement as far as how wide spread or how long the mistreatment continued. The earliest date I saw was 1869. Most sources agreed that it ended in the 1970s.

This week the Australian government made a formal apology. Professor Mick Dobson, a member of the Aboriginal community, responded, “It is a moment of enormous importance to Australia - not only for members of the Stolen Generations but also, I would suggest, for all Australians.”

I agree. The recognition by the government is a huge step for Australia and I applaud them for it. This week, the Stolen Generations have gotten one step closer to healing. May Australia continue to repair the relationship with their native people, who have such a rich heritage to share.

For more information, google “Stolen Generation(s).” Or see BBC for the article to learn more about the formal apology and recognition.