A Northern Territory boy who had a traditional upbringing in a remote indigenous community lost his cultural identity after he was taken away by welfare workers, an inquiry has heard.
His grandfather, known as CO, told the child protection royal commission the boy was removed into care by the NT government at age seven because his mother was "drinking too much".
CO says he's been trying to repair the broken links to language, tradition, the land and culture ever since the young man returned at age 18 last year.
The youngster is struggling to recapture his Australian bush childhood, feeling alienated in the place where he grew up, he said.
"When he came back home... he didn't trust anybody," CO said in an interview heard by the inquiry on Monday.
CO said relatives weren't asked if they could look after the boy before he was sent to Darwin, nor were they told why they couldn't visit him.
The child had no connection to culture and family while he was away, and the community is slowly trying to reintroduce him to traditional life.
They've taken him out bush to hunt for fish, oysters and turtles, but the young man has been hesitant to eat bush tucker.
"Don't be scared I tell him. This is your place, your country, come on let's go, have a walk around... listen to the elders," CO said.
The teenager had to relearn the complex skin group system to reintegrate back into his community, and had to catch up on important men's initiation and ceremonies.
CO said his grandson missed out on important cultural knowledge including dancing, painting and making clap sticks, boomerangs and spears for hunting.
These stories, values and skills need to be passed on to future generations to preserve Aboriginal culture, CO said.
"It was very hard for him. For us too," he said.
"We're talking about life here, the kid's life."
The commission is hearing evidence about the the rising rate of forced removals of vulnerable Aboriginal children as National Reconciliation Week continues.
Under NT law, priority must be given to wider families and the broader Aboriginal community when kids are separated from their parents because of abuse or neglect, where it is safe to do so.
But Territory Families Senior Child Protection Officer Kirsten Schinkel acknowledged systemic failures by her department to identify kinship carers for Aboriginal children.
"We don't have large numbers of Aboriginal placements available," she said.
"At the end of the day, you can't force people to become a foster carer."
Ms Schinkel agreed that language and cultural barriers, a mistrust of government and geography compromise the ability of Territory Families to find immediate family carers.
She admitted Aboriginal community organisations are often better equipped for the job.
Ms Schinkel said there was difficulty in retaining staff amid high caseloads and emotional demands, with promising workers leaving the profession after becoming disillusioned.
