Archie Roach: A Guiding Light for Stolen Generations

Often referred to as "Uncle Archie," Archie Roach was one of the prominent personnel who hailed from Australia; he belongs to the upper echelon even among these figures. He has been akin to a guiding light for his people and "stolen generation". There was profound personal loss in his remarkable life, but so were luminous artistic achievements. His music told his own story and how he made sense of the world around him. His soulful singing and evocative lyrics flowed from something deep within him and gave voice to the collective pain of Indigenous Australians who were removed from their families under government policies of assimilation.

Early Life and the Trauma of the Stolen Generations

Archie Roach was born in 1956 in Mooroopna, Victoria, to Nellie Austin and Archie Roach Sr. Both of his parents were from the Gunditjmara and Bundjalung nations. At the age of three or four, Roach was taken away from his family, along with his two sisters. This brutal act was a part of the Australian government’s assimilation policies. The aim was that these children should be assimilated into the white community and adopt the white culture at the cost of their own culture, heritage, and language. These Indigenous children were called stolen generations. It was so severe that "The Bringing Them Home Royal Commission Report (1997)" described such policies of removing Aboriginal children as genocide.

He was taken by a Scottish white family, Alex and Dulcie Cox, who had moved to Australia from Scotland. They were told that his parents had died in a house fire. Later in his life, Roache said his adoptive parents were “blameless" and "were used.” He moved to Scotland and started living with the Cox family. The eldest daughter, Mary Cox, would sing church hymns and also taught Roach the basics of guitar and keyboards. His love for music was kindled right at this moment and was gradually nurtured by his foster father's love for music and record collection.

He attended Strathmore North Primary School and started to sing, both in church and along with Alex Cox’s favourite Scottish tunes. He was enamored with the music of Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, and Hank Williams.

The Homecoming

Roach was living the happiest life possible, and everything seemed to be perfect as it was. However, at the age of 15, a letter came to his school. It was from his biological sister, Myrtle, who he thought was dead. From Myrtle's letter, he came to know his biological mother had died. His head was spinning, and his life up to that point felt meaningless to him.

Roach was unable to stay in Scotland anymore, he had to find his long-lost family and his true roots. But his journey to Australia turned out to be a herculean task. In Shepparton, he was arrested and released but on the condition that he would stay there for two years, although within six months, he was on his way to Sydney.

In Sydney, he was lost and lonely. But, the fate that had changed his life once played its card again, but this time it was a blessing. Purely by chance, he met his sister Diana and was able to connect to his siblings through her.

Music as a Path to Healing

Meeting his natural siblings should have alleviated the unsettling feeling that his life was meaningless, but these emotions lingered with him. During this period, Roach did numerous jobs but settled nowhere. Adding in the alcohol addiction, one could easily deduce that his life was in shambles. Amidst such tumultuous situations,  he met Ruby Hunter, a stolen member of the Ngarrindjeri people, whom he eventually married.

They fought all the challenges together—homelessness, addiction, and the search for a stable roof. While battling these issues, Roach rediscovered his love and passion for music. He turned to it as a way of self-expression and healing. His voice became his tool for channeling his pain, his love, and his hope.

In the late 1980s, Roach and Hunter formed their band, the Altogethers, along with some other Indigenous Australians, and moved to Melbourne. 

Took the Children Away

In 1988, Roach wrote his first song, “Took the Children Away," a beautiful song that tells the story of the Stolen Generations from the perspective of a child. He performed it a few times, one of which was in a concert where he opened for Australian rock singer and guitarist Paul M. Kelly. It is said his performance left the audience so stunned that they momentarily forgot to applaud. 

The song later appeared on his debut album 'Charcoal Lane' (1990), which was a monumental moment in Australian music history. This album was awarded two ARIA Awards in 1991 and included in the top 50 albums for 1992 by Rolling Stone magazine. 

A Guiding Light 

What Roach aimed for was to shed light on the injustices the indigenous Australians faced and the incessant fear they had to ensure. Not only that, but the adverse impact of colonization was a recurring theme in his songs. Identity, loss, resilience, and everything he has been through were his inspiration.

The song “Down City Streets” is about alcohol abuse; in “Walking Into Doors,” Roach wonders why men hurt their partners and explores pain and trauma. All of his songs reflected the issues Australian aboriginal communities were dealing with.

Alongside the usual recording sessions and shows, he and Hunter were dedicated teachers who taught music in remote Indigenous communities. They also offered an open house to homeless and disadvantaged young people. 

Roach’s work was not just about music. He was an advocate for Indigenous rights who campaigned tirelessly for the recognition of the Stolen Generations and made sure to use his platform to raise awareness. Soon, his efforts were showing results, and the historic National Apology to the Stolen Generations was delivered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008.

Epilogue

Archie Roach died in July of 2022. He has left a towering legacy for Australians and, unarguably, for the whole world. It is impossible to think of someone who would be able to fill his shoes. Whatever happens, his legacy will inevitably endure the corrosive flow of time. His dream of hope, love, and compassion will stay relevant forever. The light bearer of freedom and his oeuvre will always be the source of strength, solace, and solidarity.