Encouraging Stolen Generations descendants to pursue reconnection
Link-Up (Qld) encourages descendants of Stolen Generations survivors to seek support in strengthening their cultural and family connections.
Stolen Generations survivors may be hesitant to reconnect with their family, Country, culture and community, because of trauma they carried from being forcibly removed under past government policies and practices. Sometimes, this can have harmful effects on their descendants, who can feel caught between the wishes of their survivor family members and their own sense of longing for answers.
We want these people to know that they are not alone in these struggles and that they will be supported every step of the way to reconnect with identity or rediscover culture, if they choose for themselves to do so.
Reconnecting with family
Link-Up (Qld) client Kathleen Gerada said despite only learning about her heritage as a Stolen Generations descendant later in life, she takes strength from her reconnection to her family history.
“I went to Link-Up (Qld) about four years ago and it’s been amazing; my only regret is that I wish I had done it earlier,” she said.
“The mystery around my grandmother was the reason I took that step, and I’ve only just found out she died in 1952, and I was born in 1945, which means I could have known her, I could have known my aunties and uncles.
“When you find out about all these places you’ve never been to and people you’ve never met, it does affect you, and then once you do meet some of them, it just brings so much more into your world.”
It’s never too late for your culture
Link-Up (Qld) Chairperson Len Utz said no one in his family spoke about being Aboriginal, because of the trauma his mother carried from being forcibly removed under past government policies and practices.
“Because of that, you grow up without culture, language or people to share knowledge with you,” Chairperson Utz said.
“Now my grandson is twenty and he wants to learn all about my ancestors and I’m able to share with him all that I know, including documentation of where they lived and even who they were married to, and to me that’s great knowledge.
“You can always learn things about your culture, even at my age.
“If you know or believe that you’re of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and you’ve been disconnected from your family, your culture and your heritage, take that journey, because it can be the best journey of your life.”