"The aboriginal peoples of Australia, Canada, and New Zealand became minorities in their own countries in the 19th century. The expanding British Empire had its own vision for the future of these peoples: they were to become civilized, Christian, and citizens--in a word, assimilated. This book provides the first systematic and comparative treatment of the social policy of assimilation followed in the three countries. Australia began by denying the aboriginal presence, Canada by registering all "status" Indians, and New Zealand by giving all Maori British citizenship. Major policy periods are characterized as early institutionalized contact, paternalistic protection, paternalistic assimilation, integration, and pluralism. Children received particular attention under the policy of assimilation, and much of this book focuses on policies and practices related to family and child welfare and education, including cultural differences in assumptions about child rearing and family roles, education as a tool of assimilation, extensive removal of aboriginal children from their families with placement in foster care or residential schools, and current efforts of aboriginal communities to recover from the devastating effects of social policies and to take control of child welfare practices. Thirty-eight tables include historical data on aboriginal population, foster care and adoption, residential and day school enrollments, juvenile offenders, and expenditures and staffing for child welfare agencies. Includes an extensive bibliography, chapter notes, maps, and an index. (SV)"--abstract.