Reconciliation and Social Justice Library
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THE RECOGNITION OF ABORIGINAL CUSTOMARY LAWS - 29. The Continuing Impact of Settlement.
Changes in policy, even when addressed to problems created by the
past, do not erase the past. The history of forced resettlement on
reserves, the placing of many thousands of children in institutions,
and the loss of land and culture are evident in the disadvantages
still experienced by many Aboriginal people today. Even without
forcible removal, Aborigines often had little choice but to 'come
in' to the cities, rural centres or pastoral stations 37 The coming
together in settlements and missions of many different groups with
different languages and customs created new tensions. The availability
of Western medical skills, education and technology increased the
degree of contact with the outside world and 'Anglo-Australian ways.
The increasing availability of television in rural areas and the
advent of satellite communications have added further pressures.
Alcohol continues to have a devastating effect. Payments of social
service benefits cut across traditional kinship rules. Aborigines
seeking education for their children may find that Western education
tends to undermine traditional lifestyles and social structures.
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