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The Tinker Experiments: Child trafficking
Montrose, Scotland, United Kingdom
Aim
Cost of a trip to the 'holding site' in Canada where Scottish Gypsy Traveller children were trafficked to during the 20th century.
Gracie, Mary, Margaret and my grandfather, John
Note to funds raised: I've received cash donations totalling £150 which I have added to the fund - it is showing in my name.
Background
From the late 1800s to the 1970s Scottish Gypsy Traveller children [including three girls from my own family] were trafficked to the colonies. This policy and practice was given the greenlight by an 1895 report tabled at Westminster by George Otto Trevelyan which, amongst other things, encouraged the 'extirpation' [1] of the Gypsy Traveller community via enforced assimilation and the removal and trafficking of children. Only two of our girls survived beyond their early twenties. The following podcast tells the story of our three girls and the intergenerational [or historic] trauma experienced by myself and other members of the family.
The trafficking of Gypsy Traveller children to the colonies: Intergenerational trauma — Ayeright
Our girls, Margaret, Mary and Gracie, were trafficked by Quarrier's Homes to their 'holding site' Fairknowe, Brockville, Ontario where after a period of time they were selected by Canadian families as indentured servants. The level of servitude for them, and other children, ranged from housekeeping [for example, our Gracie, aged 9 at the time, was found working as a housekeeper to a family in Ottawa] to farm labourers. Abuse, physical, sexual and emotional, was commonplace and the majority of those trafficked were told their parents were dead or that they did not want them. As such, many of those trafficked did not search for there birth parents when they were old enough to do so. Indeed, if not for the tenacity of my grandfather we too would never have re-connected with the two surviving girls. The whereabouts of many of those trafficked children remains unknown but given that 72 unmarked graves have recently been found in the vicinity we can surmise that some may be buried there.
Purpose of this fundraiser
This fundraiser is to meet the cost of of a visit to the 'holding site' in Canada where our girls were trafficked to, to enable me to begin the healing process and to undertake further research into the recently discovered unmarked graves in the vicinity.
I am aware that some might say/have said that historical actions and events can have no impact on current and future generations, and as such a visit to, and further research on the site, would neither serve meaningful purpose nor deliver closure to families impacted. However, current and emerging scientific thinking challenges this view, particularly, but not exclusively, the thinking of those working in the field of intergenerational trauma.
According to emerging data, intergenerational trauma occurs when the effects of trauma are passed down between generations. This can occur if a parent experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and those ACEs impact their parenting. It can also be the result of enforced assimilation or other systemic oppression. The effects of intergenerational trauma have been documented in descendants of refugees, residential school children [First Nations Children in Canada] and Holocaust survivors. Thus, demonstrating that the continuing impact of traumatic actions or events – in this case the attempted extirpation and/or enforced assimilation of Gypsy and Traveller children via trafficking and housing experiments – continues to impact a community, for generations. An impact which manifests physically [autoimmune conditions and so on - something which I have direct experience of] and emotionally [such as inability to form lasting personal relationships, low self-esteem and mental ill-health].
Additionally, Indigenous communities from across the world view recognition of their pain and suffering as key to them beginning the healing process and affords them the opportunity to create transgenerational trauma free futures. Consequently, I am of the belief that a visit to the 'holding site' and further research on the unmarked graves will empower me to begin my healing process and work towards a trauma free future for the generations to come.
Breakdown of costs
Flights from Scotland to Ontario to Scotland
£700
Airport transfers
£30
Train from Toronto to Brockville - Brockville to Toronto
£70
Local travel/meeting with journalists/researchers
£100
Six nights accommodation and food
£600
NB: Figures are best estimates due to fluctuating travel costs.
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[1] Although uncommon in today’s lexicon, given its context and intent in the Government report of 1895 I feel a quote drawn from the report containing the word is merited here. ‘My object is to have them extirpated as a class and absorbed in the labouring population. That is the purpose I have in view. I think it is absolutely necessary and should be done.’ 201: Report of the Departmental Committee on Habitual Offenders, Vagrants, Beggars, and Inebriates in Scotland [1895].
This project successfully funded on 29th September 2023