“It’s important for younger people across this country to hear this song and understand it, because it’s an Australian story. It’s something that happened in this country and it’s still happening.” Uncle Archie Roach
In partnership with The Archie Roach Foundation, the resources for both Primary and Secondary schools aim to honour Stolen Generations Survivors and shed light on the devastating government policies that still impact thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families today.
The resources are based on four key themes:
Cultural Identity
Stolen Generations
Talking Our Truths
Healing Through Story and Arts.
About the Primary Resources (Year Levels 1-6)
Archie Roach AM’s internationally recognised iconic song, Took The Children Away, has been beautifully translated into a picture book for early years learning, featuring illustrations by Uncle Archie’s late partner and musical collaborator Ruby Hunter.
The resources include a video of Uncle Archie Roach reading his children’s book that you can share with your class, with accompanying discussion and inquiry questions and activities.
About the Secondary Resources (Year Levels 7-12)
A collection of interviews with Stolen Generations Survivors were also recorded and developed into four themed videos for secondary school learning including Cultural Identity, Stolen Generations, Talking Our Truths & Healing Through Story and Arts.
Please read cultural considerations carefully before viewing or teaching these resources.
In connecting with the Elders’ stories through these resources, we acknowledge the Stolen Generations and their families, those who were separated and never found their way home, those who are still healing and those who continue to endure the intergenerational impact.
We would like to acknowledge Uncle Archie for his generosity, passion and dedication to our First Peoples and Stolen Generations survivors, and for all the healing work he has done sharing his song stories and spirit with the world.
We deeply honour the strength, knowledge and wisdom of our Elders who shared their stories in these videos and guided the content to be best delivered and learnt from in schools; Aunty Lorraine Peeters, Aunty Eva Jo Edwards, Uncle Jack Charles, Aunty Iris Bysouth & Uncle Syd Jackson.
