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The film Rabbit Proof Fence (2002) highlights how settler colonialism is traceable to the origins of formal schooling. The film speaks to the role of residential and missionary schools in Australia in the 1930's and details the impact those schools had on Aboriginal communities--communities that resisted in myriad ways to hold onto their families, cultures, and humanity.

For this week’s prompt, discuss how settler colonialism is etched into the very fabric of The Moore River Settlement in Australia by providing specific examples drawn from the film. Be sure to be detailed and descriptive here.

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Amazon.com: Rabbit-Proof Fence : Ningali Lawford, Kenneth Branagh, Laura Monaghan, Everlyn Sampi, Christine Olsen, Phillip Noyce, Philip Noyce, Christine Olsen: Prime Video

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In "Rabbit Proof Fence," the Moore River Settlement shows the harsh realities of settler colonialism, as it represents a site where Aboriginal children are forcibly removed from their families. The settlement’s prison-like environment enforces a curriculum designed to erase Indigenous identities, uniforms that strip the children of their cultural markers. We see this in the scenes when Molly, Daisy and Gracie aren't allowed to speak their native tongue and are told to only speak english. We also see the presumed teacher wash off the girls markings and say now isn't that better. The Aboriginal children in the settlement are also told to pray before there meals, something they themselves did not do. This is another way the settlers are forcing the children to assimilate to there own ideals and be something they never consented too or wanted to be.

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In the movie Rabbit Proof Fence, it shows how the Indigenous people of the land were restructuring through social, political, and environmental fabric to sustain settler society, through the displacement of Indigenous peoples they were forcefully dispossessed Aboriginal communities who lived along the river Moore and pushed and were forcibly removed from the fertile lands near water sources pushed into marginal lands that were less arable or viable for sustaining their traditional ways of life.

Christian missionaries were established to convert Indigenous people, and the children were forcefully removed from their parents and place with families or missionaries  they sought to civilize Aboriginal people by imposing European religious and cultural had the children forced to wear European clothing, attend prayers an adhere to strict rules, The children are stripped of their identity and are subjected to harsh discipline, Children are lined up for inspection and are confined in cramped quarters. Another thing was the way Moodoo had the tasked to track down all the runner ways conflicted with him being close to his own daughter.  It showed and depicts the vast unforgiving land the girls had to cross to get back home, if were not for molly leadership and spiritual strength to guide her along the fence to find her way back home.

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In Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), settler colonialism is intricately woven into the narrative of The Moore River Settlement, serving as a stark representation of the broader systemic efforts to erase Aboriginal identities and cultures through institutional means. The film illustrates several key examples that highlight this colonial impact. One of the most prominent aspects depicted is the forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families, a direct result of government policies aimed at assimilating Indigenous people into white Australian society. The three young protagonists—Molly, Daisy, and Gracie—embody the resilience of their communities against this oppressive system. Their abduction from their families and placement in The Moore River Settlement signifies a brutal attempt to sever their ties to their heritage. The film shows the children being taken by officials, illustrating how the colonial government viewed Indigenous peoples not as individuals with rights but as subjects to be controlled and reformed. The environment of The Moore River Settlement itself is designed to enforce colonial ideologies. The settlement is portrayed as a stark, barren place, devoid of the warmth and connection found in the children’s home communities. This physical separation emphasizes the alienation experienced by the Aboriginal children. The institutional atmosphere, characterized by strict rules and harsh discipline, mirrors the broader colonial narrative of domination and dehumanization. The school serves not as a place of learning in a nurturing sense but as a mechanism for indoctrination, aimed at erasing the children's cultural identities. Furthermore, the film depicts the role of the missionaries and government officials as enforcers of this colonial agenda. Their interactions with the children often reflect a paternalistic attitude, suggesting that they are "saving" the Aboriginal children by taking them away from their families. This false sense of benevolence highlights the insidious nature of settler colonialism, where the act of assimilation is cloaked in the guise of care and education. The children's attempts to escape back to their families symbolize a broader resistance to colonial authority. The journey they undertake—traversing the vast landscapes of Australia while being hunted by authorities—serves as a powerful metaphor for the struggle of Aboriginal peoples to reclaim their agency and identity. Their determination to return home underscores the unbreakable bonds of family and culture that colonial systems sought to dismantle. Overall, Rabbit-Proof Fence powerfully illustrates how settler colonialism is embedded within the fabric of The Moore River Settlement. Through the experiences of the children and the oppressive structures surrounding them, the film highlights the deep scars left by colonial policies on Aboriginal communities, emphasizing their resilience in the face of such adversity. This narrative not only sheds light on a dark chapter in Australian history but also calls for recognition and acknowledgment of the ongoing impacts of these colonial legacies.

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In the movie “Rabbit-Proof Fence,” Moore River settlement is a classic example of the way that colonialism has shaped the school system. After  Molly, Daisy, and Gracie are forcefully taken from their mother and grandma, they are taken to the Moore River school. From the beginning, they were spoken to in a different language, forbidden to use their own language, given different clothes and food, and made to pray to God that they didn’t even know. The white savior characters were represented throughout the movie. We saw “Mr. Devil,” believing he was doing something good and saving children. He thought their way of life was not right and inferior to his. He was obsessed with purifying the race and hoping to eliminate the mixed race. According to him, he “had to save them from themselves.” The children had to follow a specific routine. They erased their culture, beliefs, and way of life with each action. In the movie, Although the Aboriginal people lived in tents and had very humble lives, they were happy. Children were free to explore and be themselves. Even the seeker was not free to make his own choices and continued to comply, even though he knew it was wrong deep inside. He did it, hoping to be with his daughter away from the institution someday. Molly, Daisy, and Gracie showed so much resilience, and Molly had superior cognitive development. This movie also shows the strength of our people, who, time and time again, have gathered together to resist oppression, and the dominant race continues to make it harder for us to move forward. If it was such a great place for them to be, why were the children trying to escape? History continues to repeat itself through different cultures. Colonizers forcefully imposed their cultures and way of life onto us to make us assimilate and forget our ancestors, our beliefs, and our culture. This movie was great, demonstrating the strength of our people against the horrific and violent acts committed against our people.

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"Rabbit-Proof Fence" powerfully illustrates the effects of settler colonialism on both the Moore River Settlement and the Australian landscape. The film depicts the forced removal of Aboriginal children and the attempts to erase Indigenous cultures by imposing a singular way of living and presenting oneself.

Residential schools were established to confine "half-caste" children, subjecting them to strict discipline, forced labor, and efforts aimed at erasing their Aboriginal identity. The experiences of Molly, Daisy, and Gracie highlight the emotional trauma inflicted by these institutions, along with the severing of family ties.

The interactions between the children and staff reveal the colonial attitudes toward Aboriginal culture, which were enforced by punishing the children for speaking their native languages. Despite this, the children managed to escape and embark on a journey. Their escape symbolizes their resilience against oppression, and their path along the rabbit-proof fence signifies a physical and spiritual connection to their culture, which they continually sought to maintain.

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The movie was very upsetting to watch. The Aboriginal children were kidnapped and detained in a concentration camp school. The children were not free to play and learn like white children in Australia. The Aboriginal children were reprogrammed to forget their culture and identity. Gracie, Daisy, and Molly's story shows the lengths the colonizers would go to erase a culture and a whole group of people. The white gentleman the children referred to as the "devil", felt wholeheartedly that he was doing the "best" for the Abroingial children. He went on to perpetuate the myth of forced assimilation to other white people to gain sympathy for his cause. He patronized the white officer to recapture Molly, Daisy, and Gracie. He used photos to show white women that his school's mission and vision does work in erasing the Aboriginal child. We see that when he examines the children's backs to see if they can pass.

The school's effort to dehumanize the children is depicted when the children are interacting with the staff. For instance, when the nun bathes the children, she scrubs them like dirty clothes. And the nuns barely touch the children, they usher the children from a distance like they were contagious. Another instance is when the children have to use a bucket in the corner to go to the bathroom. That means the children cannot leave the room overnight. The children were trapped in the one-room space. The children were breaking out of the room and escaping to find their families and freedom. We see the results of the school when the girls run into the woman on the farm from the school. She's a maid and she is sexually abused by the farmer. She was forced into this life that the school ultimately created for her. She's alone with no family to help her and lives to serve whites.

The school was a concentration camp to eliminate the Aboriginal race and create a passing and obedient "half-caste" child or indentured servitude.

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The film Rabbit-Proof-Fence is the perfect depiction of how European colonialism affected the Indigenous people of Australia, known as Aboriginals, in the 1930s. The white British settlers were breeding with the Aboriginal people to lighten their skin and eliminate their culture. The offspring of the Aboriginal or half-caste children were taken from their mothers by force and transported to the Moore River Settlement. This is where the process of erasing the identity and culture of indigenous people began. There, the children were forbidden to speak their native language, wear uniform-type clothing, and learn and worship a God that the British government imposed. In contrast to what we now believe, the British government thought they were saving these children by imposing their culture and erasing their indigenous roots. The three girls, Molly, Daisy, and Grace, were transported to the Moore River Settlement in deplorable conditions. They were treated like less than humans and placed in a cage. Once they arrived at the conditioning educational camp, they were stripped of all their cultural clothing and language. Molly resisted, and resilience against oppression gave her the courage to escape with Daisy and grace and begin a valiant journey back home following the rabbit-proof fence.  They encountered many dangers in their journey and outsmarted the British oppressors.

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In the movie Rabbit Proof Fence, settler colonialism is shown in the school Moore River. Those girls were taken form their family and forced to learn English, different clothes and different food. The white's believed they were doing something good for them not knowing they were only harming them. They had those girls pray and practically trying to force them to believe in their own religion and not allowing them to choose if they wanted to. We see how those that were white children were able to be moved somewhere else and those of color were not and had to stay there. The children try to leave and return back home but if they were caught they were beaten and put in a place as punishment. However, these girls made their way out with their determination of making their way back home following the fence.

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Settler colonialism is etched into almost every part of the Moore River Settlement. This movie, Rabbit Proof Fence showed the harsh ways in which culture was stripped from young children as they were removed forcibly from their families to attend these residential schools. Watching the ways that the children in the school had to adapt to a new routine, forcibly eat food (possibly without seasoning), not be allowed to speak their native language, and learn to labor by cleaning the room or throwing away urine in the morning demonstrated the stripping of their ways to pick up new traditions. Continuously hearing Mr. Neville make mention of him wondering if the aboriginal knew how much he was trying to help them had me wondering, "why he would think that the natives would need to be grateful to him for any of this?". This idea of "helping" them in harsh ways shows the superiority complex mixed with entitlement that occurs in the settler's mind by thinking that natives are incapable of getting through life because their customs are different, their skin is different and their language as well. Being taken away from your family, being forced to change all of the things that make you who you are and not being able to escape are all forms of abuse. Abuse should not be rewarded with gratitude especially when it is not helpful. The indigenous people did not ask for help, no thank you.

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The Moore River Settlement serves as a representation of the effects of settler colonialism, mainly through the role it plays in the pushed assimilation of aboriginal children. One way seller colonialism is etched into the fabric of the Moore river settlement in Australia is when the film shows the children's arrival at Moore River. When the children arrived to the river they saw a land that was very bare and didn't have any warmth and also didn't feel very welcoming. This particular setting shows the very oppressive nature of the settlement that's made to take away their culture and their identities and also to instill a foreign system to which they are not use to. Another way settler colonialism is etched into the fabric of the Moore River Settlement is the surveillance and control of the settlement. The white staff in the settlement showed that the settlement was very strong in dynamics of power and control, this around the clock surveilance is one of the things that constitutes settler colonialism.

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The Moore River Settlement in the Rabbit Proof Fence, serves as a representation of settler colonialism, where education and strict discipline are used to break the spirit of the Indigenous children and force them to abandon their culture. The girls are forbidden to speak their language or engage in cultural practices. In one scene, a girl who tries to run away is punished and paraded in front of others. This public shaming was used to break their will and make them compliant. Another scene in the film shows the children marching in lines, given new clothes, and expected to adopt the European customs. Their removal wsa intended to take the children from their cultural roots, preventing them from passing on their language, knowledge and traditions to the future generations. Stripping them of their indigenous identity. Molly's decision to escape with her sisters demonstrates resilience and the rejection of colonial domination.

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Nicole Mobley

In the movie Rabbit Proof Fence a clear picture of what settler colonialism is and what the process looks like is presented. Even before we are introduced to the Moore River Settlement , there is almost a marking of territory as we see this fence run from one end to the other of the continent. What is striking to me is why build a short fence for an animal that can hop over it or burrow over it? It was a representation of the audacious attitude of the invaders to lay claim to and domineer over people, places, and things that they have no ownership of. The Moore Settlement proved to be the grounds where the presumptuous settlers instilled what their idea of rightness was. After being snatched from their family and riding a train in a cage like animals, they are placed in an environment that outlaws their social norms and beliefs. In one scene the girls were given a set of new clothes and something was said to the effect of go and change into these proper clothes, whenever they used their native tongue, it was framed to be “backwards” and “uncivilized” and in another scene when the girls are being washed the woman washing them kept saying “isn’t that better” or something similar. The Moore River Settlement perpetuated blatant suppression and forceful assimilation. Sadly, so many of these practices have mutated but still exist in contemporary times.

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The harsh reality of mankind is the belief that they can treat others inhumanely. The sad part is that the main characters are children, and a sense of self drives them to escape back to where they came from. The Moore River Settlement in Australia serves as a lens to show the disparity in resources that the colonizers used to project power. Settler colonialism, as seen in this context, goes beyond mere occupation; it’s a process rooted in the erasure of Indigenous culture and identity. The colonizers didn’t just impose their language, clothing, and customs—they sought to assimilate the children and sever their connection to their heritage, effectively attempting to erase any trace of Indigenous identity. By denying the children their native language, forcing them to wear colonizer clothing, and subjecting them to a foreign way of life, the settlers established a violent and oppressive system that stripped away their cultural roots. This method of control showcases how settler colonialism isn’t just about physical land occupation but a deep, systemic destruction of the original culture to solidify dominance and reshape the land and its people according to the settlers’ ideals.

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In the film Rabbit Proof Fence, the government had a plan for these Aboriginals who were considered half-caste. The man Neville was given the nickname the "Mr. Devil" because people Jigalong probably viewed him as a horrible person for taking away children that are mixed. He planned to breed out the Indigenous people by having them breed children with white people so that by the 3rd generation their skin color would be light enough to erase their identity as an Aboriginal.

They removed them from their mothers and when they arrived at the Moore River Settlement they were expected only to speak English they weren't allowed to speak their native language. Their Western beliefs were implemented on to them taking away their indigenous practices and beliefs. They had to wear certain clothing, make their beds, follow a schedule, socialize in English, go to school, and eat the same foods. The dormitory they were placed in had locks which is a symbol of their freedom being taken away and the only reason Molly, Daisy, and Gracie were found as "missing" was because of the attendance taken before going to bed. Neville and his team of trackers went searching for the girls to retreat them back to Moore River Settlement. Unfortunately, Gracie was captured. Molly and Daisy were able to find their way back home.

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In the beginning of the film, the Australian government removed the indigenous children from their families by force as if they were kidnapped, since the guardians did not give permission for the government to take the children. Although the Indigenous people are aware that this would happen, this still did not change their perspective as to how cruel this law was. The Australian's considered this group of indigenous people (and I am sure anyone who does not look them) inhumane and uncivilized and believed that the removal of the children from their family will better their current and future lives and eliminate their culture. Language was one of the first target when trying to change their culture. when the children attended the missionary school, the workers would show "tough love" and gave the assumption that they were benefiting the well-being of the indigenous. They did not allow them to speak any other language or dialect other than the "correct" language, english.

The Australian government also wanted to change the way they looked by changing their attire and changing their hair even as far as to cut it. Anything that doesn't resonate with the white culture was seen as uncivilized and although many of the individuals in the missionary schools assimilated to the "proper" culture some only assimilated because they believed one day they will be able to return home (I.e. the tracker).

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I feel like this movie was kind of a lot to take in, at least in my opinion and experience while watching it, so I'll explain the thoughts with the example all together haha.

Forced Assimilation of Indigenous kids

At the Moore River Settlement, the main goal of settler colonial policies was to integrate Indigenous children, particularly those of mixed ancestry (known as "half-castes"), into European settler society. This was done by using the Aboriginal Protection Act, which allowed for the taking of children away from their families and communities. Among these are the girls (Molly, Daisy, and Gracie) in the film, who are taken from their homes and taken to the settlement in an effort to become "civilized."

Its underlying premise was that Indigenous cultures should be replaced by Western lifestyles, which were considered inferior.It is attempted to keep the girls from being exposed to their native languages and cultures, and they are trained in household chores. This assimilation policy is a obvious example of settler colonialism, which aims to drive Indigenous peoples off their land and destroy their cultures and languages in favor of the colonizers'. The girls' escape from the settlement is a symbol of their resistance to this process throughout the film as they try to return to their families and their heritage.

The Control of Land and Separation from Families

The colonial power of settlers over Indigenous people and their land is symbolized by the rabbit-proof fence itself. The fence was built in an effort to prevent the spread of rabbits, an introduced species that became problematic in Australia. The fence represents the colonial project's control over the surrounding area and also acts as a landmark for the girls' escape from the Moore River Settlement.

Indigenous families are divided by the settlement, which also instills in kids like Molly, Daisy, and Gracie the belief that their cultural identity should be destroyed. Their families, whose customary ties to the land and to one another were broken by the colonial endeavor, are forced to leave them. One of the best examples of the long-lasting effects of settler colonialism is the settlement's role in deepening the gap between Indigenous people and their lands: Indigenous people feel cut off from the land because settlers control it, while they bury their own history and heritage under colonial rule.

Land control and the forced separation of children from their families are the two primary characteristics of settler colonialism. As the film graphically depicts, the system sought to "reorder" Indigenous society by severing cultural and familial ties in order to ensure that the colonized population would be incorporated into the way the settlers think is the best or "correct."

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As i watched the movie, i come to the realization that everywhere in the world color children are the victims of people who feel and believe that they are better then others. I was very upset with the fact that children were being taken away from their families. This leads to them losing the roots, their traditions, their indigenous language, who they are. These children are taking to the "school" that according to the Moore river settlement will prepare them for compliant roles in society. That is a way of how colonialism shapes the school system. They will take children away to "civilize"them. Also, Molly was very resistant in trying to scape with grace and Gracie. The way she used what she was thought and her traditional knowledge to get home through the fence.

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In the movie, As part of the "Stolen Generations" initiative, the Australian government forcefully removes these children from their families in order to integrate Indigenous children into white Australian society. They are removed from their family and cultural identity and brought to the government-run Moore River Native Settlement, where they get training to serve as domestic servants for white households.Molly, Daisy, and Gracie were fleeing from the authorities to gain their freedom; they endured a lot at such a young age while following the fences that would lead them to their destination. Among the many difficulties the girls encounter are hunger, exhaustion, and the possibility of being apprehended by the police.They also have to deal with the terrifying and enormous environment. Their resilience and close ties to their culture and one another sustain them in the face of these challenges. Their strength, determination, and the unbreakable tie of family are all demonstrated by their escape.Being a woman of color, I could relate to this film since it must be extremely frightening and perhaps fatal to have to run for your life and endure a lot in order to gain freedom. As a mother and a woman of color, it is an odd and mixed sensation to consider being separated from your family, who are the ones who will protect and guide you, and being in the hands of people who don't have any value for your life.

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This was a difficult watch, The three girls; Gracie, Molly and Daisy were torn away from their family forced into a conversion school where they were taught how to conduct themselves in a "proper fashion" by missionaries. The goal for the settlers was to whiten the Aboriginal population. Too convert and raised these children to be more aligned with their way of life. The audacity for a person to treat you savagely and then say we are more civilized is mind blowing. How do you help a woman after youu strip her of her children? How do you help children under those same circumstances. There was a character charged with the task of tracking down all of young girls who tried to run away. He was clearly a native. He was charged with this task because he knew the land and the terrain. I believed he respected the grit and determination of the young girls who escaped. Seeing the two sister at the end of the movie was a very liberating feeling. It shows that they would not be held captive and survived very harsh circumstances.