Elders Portraits

As a part of Reconciliation Week this photographic portrait exhibition recognises and pays tribute to survivors of the Stolen Generations. 

For Our Elders

The photographs showcased here represent only a fraction of the resilient survivors and descendants of the Stolen Generations. In reverence to their enduring strength, we humbly honour their journey of healing, standing beside them as allies.

These Elders carry ties to numerous missions and institutions across Australia, perhaps enduring placements in multiple locations. Their narratives, fraught with hardship and perseverance, demand to be heard—a testament to the profound repercussions of historical Government policies on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Their stories are not just tales of survival but beacons of truth, illuminating the impact of past injustices. It is through sharing these narratives/yarns that we can foster a deeper understanding and empathy for the enduring legacy of the Stolen Generations.

Yorgum Healing Services – Link-Up would like to acknowledge all Stolen Generation’s members who have passed along with thanking the Elder’s that form this collection for allowing us the privilege of presenting their images for your viewing.  We would also like to thank the Healing Foundation for their support and our amazing photographer Brendan Cecich for his assistance with this exhibition.

Yorgum Healing Services and the Link-Up Program

Yorgum was established in 1991 by a group of Aboriginal women, some of whom worked in women’s refuges, who were concerned about the lack of appropriate counselling support for Aboriginal people experiencing spiritual, emotional and psychological pain. They founded a service with a ‘healing’ approach rather than an ongoing, crisis-driven ‘patch-up’ approach.

Our Link Up service provides healing support and counselling to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples separated from their families as a result of past governments’ removal policies and practices, including institutionalisation and adoption or foster care.

More information about Yorgum Healing Services can be found on their website.