In My Own Moccasins, Helen Knott
In My Own Moccasins, Helen Knott
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In My Own Moccasins
A Memoir of Resilience

Author: Helen Knott

Narrator: Helen Knott

Unabridged: 8 hr 54 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Knopf Canada

Published: 08/24/2021

Synopsis

Helen Knott, a highly accomplished Indigenous woman, seems to have it all. But in her memoir, she offers a different perspective. In My Own Moccasins is an unflinching account of addiction, intergenerational trauma, and the wounds brought on by sexual violence. It is also the story of sisterhood, the power of ceremony, the love of family, and the possibility of redemption.
With gripping moments of withdrawal, times of spiritual awareness, and historical insights going back to the signing of Treaty 8 by her great-great grandfather, Chief Bigfoot, her journey exposes the legacy of colonialism, while reclaiming her spirit.

About The Author

Helen Knott is of Dane Zaa, Nehiyaw, and Euro descent from Prophet River First Nations, living in Northeastern B.C.. Helen is a Masters in FN Studies student at UNBC currently and holds a Bachelors Degree in Social Work.She has bee published in places such as the Malahat Review, Chatelaine, and The New Quarterly. Her first book, In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience, was released in the Fall of 2019 through the University of Regina Press and has been a national bestseller, was long listed for the RBC Taylor Prize, and is currently shortlisted for a BC Yukon Book Prize.Helen is eight years sober and clean on her journey and is passionate about healing. She is a mother to one, a mediocre beader, and a skilled berry picker. She also thinks writing in third person on her blog is weird so if you have any questions just ask.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jaime on February 05, 2020

I felt like I was reading my own story. I had so much in common with the author that I am feeling defeat about writing my own memoir 😆 Actually, I’m so happy that she wrote it. It took me back in time to all sorts of memories; good and bad. I had only one physical trigger from this book and I caught......more

Goodreads review by Katelyn on August 26, 2020

THIS. BOOK. IS. SO. IMPORTANT. I spent much of it underlining and circling because it is full of significant moments that I want to remember and learn again. Beautifully written, even at the darkest of moments......more

Goodreads review by Erin || erins_library on June 14, 2021

I want to begin by saying atléin gunalchéesh to Helen Knott for sharing her story. This book, her memoir, is a piece of herself laid out for us to read and I’m forever grateful to her for her vulnerability. The writing style worked perfectly — Most of the time it was blunt and straight to the point,......more

Goodreads review by Dezirah on April 11, 2021

Okay, this one is hard for me. The content is important, and giving a poor review may in someway be part of the problem of erasing or silencing a voice. And that is not what this review is about. We need to talk about and support indigenous women. We need to address sexual violence especially agains......more

Goodreads review by Annie on October 15, 2020

This book made me more emotional than I have felt reading a book in a while, and I JUST finished Billy-Ray Belcourt’s book so that’s saying something. For a memoir, I felt as if Helen Knott was telling a story that was both hers and mine. Maybe that’s too depressing, but she wrote in a way that I wa......more

Quotes

Longlisted for the RBC Taylor Prize
Winner of a Saskatchewan Book Award
Shortlisted for the First Nation Communities READ Award

"The best kind of memoir: clear-eyed, generous, and glorious. . . .  Bear witness to the emergence of one of the most powerful voices of her generation." —Eden Robinson, author of Son of a Trickster and Monkey Beach (from the foreword)

"Intelligent, courageous, emotionally searing. " —Globe and Mail

"Proclaims healing a revolutionary act. " —Booklist

"An incredibly forceful and moving book, the embodiment of what it means to reconcile, both with oneself and with others. " —Quill & Quire

“Helen Knott speaks truth to the experience of Indigenous women living through the violence of colonized spaces and she does so with grace, beauty and a ferocity that makes me feel so proud.” —Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, author of Noopiming: The Cure for White Ladies
 
“Helen writes beautifully and painfully, about her own life and the lives of many of our sisters. A strong, gentle voice removing the colonial blanket and exposing truth.” —Maria Campbell, author of Halfbreed
 
“An incredible debut that documents how trauma and addiction can be turned into healing and love. I am in awe of Helen Knott and her courage. I am a fan for life. Wow.” —Richard Van Camp, author of The Lesser Blessed
 
“Heartfelt, heartbreaking, triumphant and raw, In My Own Moccasins is a must-read for anyone who's ever felt lost in their life… Actually, it's a must-read for anyone who appreciates stories of struggle, redemption and healing. Knott’s writing is confident, clear, powerful and inspiring.”
—Jowita Bydlowska, author of Guy: A Novel and Drunk Mom

“Powerful, filled with emotion.” —Carol Daniels, author of Bearskin Diary and Hiraeth

"A beautiful rendering of how recovery for our peoples is inevitably about reconnecting with Indigenous identities, lands, cultural and healing practices." —Kim Anderson, author of Reconstructing Native Womenhood

Awards

  • RBC Taylor Prize
  • Saskatchewan Book Award for Non-Fiction
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