Reconciliation: the effects of reconcilitation initatives (Apologies) on the Social and Emotional Wellbeing of People affected by past forced removal policies - A Transnational Study (Australia, Canaba and New Zeland)

Abstract

This transnational study investigates the impact of forced removal policies and practises on the Social and Emotional Wellbeing of Indigenous peoples in Australia, Canada and New Zealand and their peoples’ attitudes towards reconciliation in the wake of each of their government’s apologies. Ethnographic and Indigenous research methodologies have been used and developed, and are employed throughout the investigation to draw out themes around issues associated with removal from family and culture, and the acceptance or not of the apology. As part of this methodology, I interviewed 90 participants from 15 sites across three countries. My findings include that most Indigenous people support reconciliation. The ratio of acceptance to rejection of an apology was almost even, with a slight leaning towards acceptance. People who rejected the national apology offered by governments did so because the apology did not meet their expectations of an apology. As the apology aged, many participants felt that promises contained within it had been broken and a new relationship between the wrongdoer and the victim had not been developed. It was at this point that many people rejected the apology. As a result, this has led to growing resentment and disregard for the reconciliation apology, and poor Social and Emotional Wellbeing especially among those who were forcibly removed from their families, communities and culture. Show more