Reconciling with Oneself – Self-loathing and the Stolen Generations: A Human Library Event

 

Image credit: Michael Loke https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

The Stolen Generations

Did you know that over one-third of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are descended from members of the Stolen Generations? Many of those survivors who were brought up in public institutions or fostered into white households have been left with deep scars which are often passed onto their kids.

The complex challenges faced by the Indigenous community today are a direct result of this dispossession. Things have been taken – family, land, language, culture, identity – and in the case of the Stolen Generations sometimes they lost their self-respect. Growing up being taught to be ashamed of their aboriginality often led to feelings of inferiority that have significantly impacted their wellbeing and relationships in later life.

Towards Reconciliation

Reconnecting to what was lost remains an ongoing challenge of the Reconciliation Movement. Azure Beach Public library, in partnership with the Human Library organisation, is hosting our first Human Library event; which hopes to get to grips with these identity issues and talk about the importance of reclaiming culture as Australia moves torwards Reconciliation.

Image Credit: DrRandomFactor https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_map_of_Australia_%28Aboriginal_Australian_Flag%29.png

What is a Human Library?

Attendees will have the opportunity to borrow one of eight human ‘books’ who were members of the Stolen Generations or their descendants and ask questions about their experiences in an informal conversation about how they have ‘reconciled’ with their own identity. This event, held during NSW Aboriginal Languages Week, will encourage reconnection with culture and language and truth-telling to combat the lingering effects of dispossession.

For more on NSW Aboriginal Language Week visit the Aboriginal Languages Trust website:

https://www.alt.nsw.gov.au/

Event Details

Date: Saturday 26^th October

Time: 1:00pm-3:30pm

Location: Azure Beach Public Library, registration desk in lobby

Cost: FREE. Limited tickets available

Booking information: Register now at the Azure beach Public Library Events webpage.

If you require further information about this event, please visit the ABPL website or contact us at;

Email: events@azurebeach.gov.au

Phone: (02) 12345678

Contact person: Rhys Wilson

#HumanLibrary #Community #Reconciliation #StolenGenerations #TruthTelling #AzureBeachPublicLibrary #AboriginalLanguagesWeek

By R. Wilson