Aboriginal Bush Law - 2 of 2 - My Country Australia - BBC Culture Documentary
Summary
TLDRThe transcript discusses the importance of Aboriginal law in addressing serious crimes, such as taking a life, within the community. It emphasizes immediate resolution and public punishment as a deterrent. The script also touches on the historical injustices faced by 'Forgotten Australians' and British child migrants, abused in institutions, and calls for national apologies from both the UK and Australian governments. It highlights the emotional impact of these apologies on the victims and the significance of cultural support from leaders.
Takeaways
- đŁïž The script discusses the serious implications of taking a life, affecting not just the individual but the entire community and the offender.
- đ„ It emphasizes the importance of immediate resolution and public punishment as a way to restore order and serve as a lesson to others in the community.
- đïž The community's satisfaction with the punishment process is highlighted as a key aspect of traditional law and order.
- đ Aboriginal law is portrayed as integral to everyday life, providing guidelines and forming a significant part of Australia's cultural heritage.
- đą A call for support from the Prime Minister to strengthen Aboriginal law and culture against the overwhelming influence of mainstream culture.
- đ The script mentions historical events where the British government played a role in relocating children to Australia and Canada without proper consent, leading to abuse and neglect.
- đââïž Formal apologies from both the British and Australian governments are highlighted, acknowledging the suffering of the child migrants and the 'Forgotten Australians'.
- đïž The Australian government's apology is described as a national event that brings both shame and a sense of closure to a dark chapter in the nation's history.
- đ¶ The term 'Forgotten Australians' refers to the children who were abused or neglected in state care institutions between the 1930s and 1970s.
- đ€ The apology is seen as a step towards healing, but survivors express that the pain and trauma are long-lasting and not fully resolved.
- đ± The script ends with a sense of hope that the apology may bring some peace of mind to the survivors and their families.
Q & A
What is the significance of dealing with the matter of taking a life immediately according to the transcript?
-The significance lies in the immediate impact it has on the entire tribe and the family of the deceased. Addressing it promptly ensures that justice is served and the community can begin to heal and move forward.
What is the role of the community in administering punishment as described in the script?
-The community plays a crucial role in witnessing the punishment, ensuring transparency and collective satisfaction with the justice served. It serves as a deterrent for others and reinforces communal values.
How does the script suggest the offender should be treated after causing a death in the family?
-The offender should face the community, stand in front of people, and undergo a punishment administered publicly to demonstrate the consequences of their actions and to serve as a lesson to others.
What is the purpose of the punishment in the eyes of the community as mentioned in the transcript?
-The purpose is not only to punish the offender but also to educate and deter others from committing similar acts, thereby preventing further violent crimes in the community.
What does the transcript imply about the concept of Aboriginal law?
-Aboriginal law is deeply integrated into the community's life, serving as a guideline for living from birth to death. It is not just about punishment but also about maintaining cultural integrity and social order.
What is the message to the Prime Minister of Australia in the transcript?
-The message is a call for support, encouragement, and strengthening of Aboriginal law, culture, and ways of life, as they are being overwhelmed by the dominant culture.
What historical event is being discussed in relation to British child migrants to Australia?
-The historical event discussed is the forced migration of thousands of children, mainly without their parents' consent, from Britain to Australia and Canada over the last century, which involved deceit, lies, and official neglect.
What was the Australian government's response to the issue of the British child migrants?
-The Australian government planned to make a national apology to the British child migrants for the abuse and neglect they suffered, acknowledging the shameful history.
What is the term 'Forgotten Australians' referring to in the script?
-The term 'Forgotten Australians' refers to the half a million children who were placed in foster homes or institutional care between the 1930s and 70s, many of whom suffered physical and sexual abuse.
What did the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd do in response to the abuse of 'Forgotten Australians'?
-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally apologized to the 'Forgotten Australians' for the neglect and abuse they suffered as children in state care.
What was the policy that led to the abuse of children in Australian institutions, and when did it last?
-The policy of placing disadvantaged children in institutions, often without their parents' consent, led to their abuse. It lasted until the late 1960s.
Outlines
đ Traditional Justice and Community Reconciliation
The first paragraph discusses the gravity of taking a life within a community and the immediate need for addressing such an act. It emphasizes the collective impact on the tribe and family, and the necessity for the offender to face the community for punishment. The process is meant to serve as a lesson and deterrent for further violence. It also touches on the idea of forgiveness and reconciliation, suggesting that after punishment, the community should move forward without harboring resentment. The script mentions the handing over of the offender to the law as a final step, indicating a blend of traditional and modern legal systems.
đ Aboriginal Law and Cultural Preservation
The second paragraph delves into the significance of Aboriginal law, which is not only a punitive measure but also a guiding principle throughout life. It refutes the notion that Aboriginal law is merely historical, asserting its ongoing relevance in culture, ceremonies, and the court system. The script includes a call to action for the Australian Prime Minister to support and strengthen Aboriginal law and culture against the encroachment ofć€æ„ cultures. Additionally, it references the historical injustices faced by child migrants and the anticipated national apology for these abuses.
đââïž National Apologies for Historical Injustices
The third paragraph focuses on the formal apologies issued for the mistreatment of child migrants and 'Forgotten Australians' who suffered in state care. It recounts the experiences of those deceived into believing they were orphans, only to discover their parents were alive. The narrative includes the emotional delivery of the Australian Prime Minister's apology, the collective response of the victims, and the anticipation of a similar apology from the British government. The paragraph highlights the long-lasting effects of these injustices and the hope that the apologies might offer some form of closure and healing.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄAboriginal law
đĄPunishment
đĄCommunity
đĄCultural support
đĄApology
đĄForgotten Australians
đĄBritish child migrants
đĄReconciliation
đĄJustice
đĄCultural identity
Highlights
The importance of immediate action in cases of taking someone's life, affecting not just the individual but the entire community.
The communal responsibility and the need for public punishment to ensure justice and closure.
The concept of punishment as a deterrent and a lesson for the community to prevent further violent crimes.
The historical context of the Australian government's apology to the Stolen Generations and Forgotten Australians.
The emotional impact and the long-lasting effects of the abuse and neglect experienced by the Forgotten Australians.
The call for support from the Prime Minister to strengthen Aboriginal law and culture amidst cultural oppression.
The significance of Aboriginal law as a guiding principle in life and its importance to the community.
The recognition of the need for institutional apologies alongside government apologies for the healing process.
The emotional release and sense of closure provided by the national apology to the Forgotten Australians.
The historical policy of sending disadvantaged children to Australia for a supposed better life and the tragic outcomes.
The false promises made to the children and their families about their future in Australia.
The role of ideology in the decision to relocate children to rural environments for perceived benefits.
The mourning and loss experienced by family members who were separated from their siblings.
The anticipation and hope for healing and peace of mind following the national apology.
The deep emotional scars left by the abuse, with some victims unable to fully move on despite the apology.
The collective experience of the Forgotten Australians and former British child migrants as a 'lost tribe' seekingćœć±æ.
Transcripts
well taking another person's life is a
very serious thing not only for that
this is person but both whole tribe it
affects the whole family and everyone
related to that deceased person and the
offender it's a concern for everybody
and that matter needs to be dealt with
spread away not two days later not one
week later not a year later not twenty
years later but straight away
someone who's caused the death death in
the family two faces all the people and
stand in front of the people with
someone there next formula to administer
make sure that punishment take place in
the eyes of the people man and a woman
and a woman and he never very I don't
your advice every day and every night
letting need to be hundred new example
oh yeah woman yeah you know where Amy
and I were a millionaire
then it's but what we say yah woman
punishment took place and everyone in
that community are happy and satisfied
that he's passed through that travel
punishment and then other communities
hear that and the word is nearly all
Ramon William in other words everybody
satisfied with the punishment that took
place with the DM fella older fella who
that offender we're not gonna kill that
man
Spence with a heart or spiritual an echo
wherever to get rid of him - I know
that's not just case the case is all of
us learning that young fella basically
it's a harsh punishment but it means
that this is a lesson for anybody or X
in that way
but you will receive these money
to stop further violent crime in the
community serious crime they forgive
each other now say sorry to each other
that's the last bit how each other
shake hands or whatever that need to
take place and his finish not to be
carried on we're back to square one
again
[Music]
then we can give him to the law the
Korean law that ero business your Amanda
business is finished with the alcohol
it's been done
as in the old days he was keeping this
Warlow Warlow firestick and he's
instructed to come away from this
village not to come back for so many
years
[Music]
[Music]
[Music]
Aboriginal law is not just about
punishing people when they do the wrong
thing it's a center of us in everything
we do it is with us forming the
guideline for our life from one rapport
to one we die
[Music]
some people think aperture law is only
part of our history now but they are
wrong it is a history it is our story
our ceremony and our court system it is
one of the biggest key to Australia
[Music]
kevin rudd this is a message for you now
that you are our Prime Minister we want
you to support and encourage and
strengthen strengthen our law our
culture our culture my ways because we
are being bogged down by your culture
and it's weighing too much on us we need
your support we need your help
for goodness sake do something
[Music]
Britain will formally apologize for its
role in resetting thousands of children
mainly without their parents consent
to Australia and Canada over the last
century meanwhile the Australian
Government is due to make a national
apology on Monday to half a million
children who are placed in foster homes
in institutional care between the 1930s
and 70s those children were promised a
better life but many later complained of
physical and sexual abuse and care homes
and on farms Nick Bryant has this report
from Canberra the story of the British
child migrant ship to Australia has been
described as a shameful history of
deceit lies an official neglect the
children were commonly told they were
orphans only to find out decades later
that their parents were still alive most
were deported without the consent of
their mothers and fathers Sandra Anker
was brought to Australia at the age of
six tricked into thinking she was
embarking on a great adventure she
became a castaway of the British Empire
we've had a horrendous life it took
years years of misery of not knowing
where we come from who we were being
denied her birthright of being British
it is it's really really neat horrendous
the Parliament House in Canberra the
Australian government will say sorry to
British child migrants on Monday morning
and that appears to have prompted a
change of heart in London on the eve of
the Australian apology Danny Street has
indicated that Gordon Brown will say
sorry as well sometime in the new year
after consulting with the victims but
they've already complained that he's
being shamed into action by the
Australians it's a question we put to
Britain's new High Commissioner in
Canberra Baroness Amos I think we have
all been shocked by this part of our
history and I think it's important that
we're apologizing now it's over 20 years
since the scandal was first uncovered
and over 7,000 British child migrants
still live in Australia for them the
planned apology is way over jus Nick
Bryan BBC News Canberra
aides of abuse and neglect now there's a
formal apology to half a million
Forgotten Australians in other news this
hour the Australian Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd has formally apologized to half a
million people who suffered neglect or
abuse as children in state care known as
The Forgotten Australians the children
were put into institutions between the
1930s and 70s
Mr Rudd said Australia should look back
in shame the humiliation so many
children endured including thousands who
were sent from Britain Hague Bryant
reports from Canberra they were drawn to
Canberra by the promise of a single word
hundreds of Forgotten Australians and
former British child migrants for whom
the term abuse seems wholly inadequate
in describing their early childhood
experiences some 500,000 Forgotten
Australians were abused or neglected in
children's homes from 1930 to 1970 and
there are still some 7,000 surviving
British child migrants who were victims
of physical psychological and often
sexual mistreatment
of your own making kevin rudd wanted to
apologize for what he called the evil
they suffered in orphanages and
institutions and they're being brought
to Australia often without their parents
consent we come together today to deal
with an ugly chapter in our nation's
history and we come together today to
offer our nation's apology to say to you
the Forgotten Australians and those who
were sent to our shores as children
without their consent that we are sorry
and this was a solemn national apology
but it's been so long coming that it
felt as well like a national celebration
and certainly a moment of catharsis it's
about time and we got it yes so it's
going to make a difference for you we'll
get over it
[Music]
the government yeah they took us as
children put us into care you know
they've got the decency enough to
apologize to us now but I do think it's
up to the institutions to do it not just
the government I can move on but I can't
it's not closed nothing's ever closed
and pain and torment just stays with you
forever but it's a little bit easier as
time goes on the office-boy with India's
come out I feel relieved yeah it's up
Gordon Brown says he'll now deliver a
long-awaited apology of his own after
consulting with the victims and
following the ceremony at Parliament
House some 40 former child migrants
visited the British High Commission in
Canberra one said it was like a lost
tribe finally returning home Nick Bryant
BBC news camera now it's an apology
which many would say is very long
overdue between 1930 and 1970 around
half a million people known as the
Forgotten Australians were abused or
neglected in state-run orphanages and
today in Canberra Prime Minister Kevin
Rudd said that he was sorry for the
childhoods lost in a highly emotional
ceremony attended by many British
citizens who were shipped out of their
country rad expressed his hope that the
national apology would help heal the
pain that is our correspondent Nick
Brown reports the scars run very deep
they were drawn to the nation's capital
by the promise of a single word
hundreds of former British child
migrants and Forgotten Australians
waiting just a few more minutes for an
apology they believe is decades overdue
there's children many were victims of
such appalling physical and sexual
mistreatment that to describe it as
abuse seems wholly inadequate and he
were told their parents were dead
only to find out decades later they were
still alive this did have the feel of a
day of national atonement we are sorry
sorry that as children you were taken
from your families and placed in
institutions where so often you were
abused sorry for the physical suffering
the emotional starvation and the cold
absence of love of tenderness of care
sorry for the tragedy the absolute
tragedy of childhoods lost and his words
were greeted with applause of release
[Applause]
the policy lasted until the late 1960s
care agencies work with the government
to send disadvantaged children to what
was supposed to be a rosy future and
supply what was deemed good whites
talked to a former colony there's a
strong belief that a rural society was
somehow ideologically superior that it
led to direct greater health physically
but also as spiritually emotionally
these children will be better off moved
from inner cities in this country to
rural environments of a season back in
the UK family members like Roy Stacy
knew nothing of their siblings plight
they're still mourning the years that
were lost I feel totally bitter because
it was a stick drop I can't think of any
other words for it it was a stitcher by
the UK authorities and the Australian
authorities and various institutions
over this consultation process will
culminate in an apology from Gordon
Brown sometime in the new year a second
sorry and perhaps some peace of mind
Nick Bryan BBC News Canberra
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