Mary Terszak Orphaned by the Colour of My Skin

Annotation

In an invasive, paternalistic, federal public policy environment for Indigenous communities, this book provides an in-depth account of one person's experiences as a 'Stolen Generation' Aboriginal Australian.Told from the heart, the book speaks in the raw voice of a grandmother reflecting on her life, focusing on her childhood experiences, subsequent perceptions and life stories.The book presents a rare autobiographical journaling of the psychological impact of institutionalisation on an Indigenous woman, her search for family, community and identity, her psychological breakdown and her personal reconstruction through telling her story in a supportive educational environment.As an Appendix, the author provides us with a critical analysis and autoethnography - using her story as a case study - that provides deep insights into the personal experience of dealing with forced institutionalisation and social engineering to assimilate Aboriginal people.