IMPACT THAT EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT HAS HAD ON ABORIGINAL AND TORRES

IMPACT THAT EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT HAS HAD ON ABORIGINAL
AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE AND FAMILIES
European settlement in the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait islander people have had
several disadvantages. Loss of land and culture, resettlements, giving up children to
institutions, severe effect on health are some of the disadvantages they have had to bear. In
this report, the impact of European settlement and government policies on the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait people on various elements will be articulated.
Family structure
After European settlement, the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait islander people lost
their families, since there was splitting up as people were being displaced from their ancestral
lands. Several aspects of their lives were affected, and up to date, many are still trying to
locate their family members. there have been severe effects on those who were stolen,
referred to as the stolen generation. For some, the bond with their families was hard to re-
ignite. Others have had a chance to meet their families but they live as strangers since they do
not know each other. Additionally, there has been havoc accepting love from their family
members, since they do not know how to love or how to parent their children.
Consequently, most people from the Aboriginal community don’t know how to
maintain relationships with other people. Apart from that, most of these people have very
short family trees. According to sources, their family trees cannot go for more than two
generations.
Health and well-being
Due to fear and mistrust, most Aboriginal people ignore the available health services.
For example, some of these people who are waiting to birth a new born will practically refuse
to go to hospital, due to fear that their new born may be taken away from them. Apart from