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In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience
In My Own Moccasins: A Memoir of Resilience | Helen Knott
19 posts | 11 read | 24 to read
A reflection on what can be said about addiction, trauma, and the pains of sexual violenceHelen 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.
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IndoorDame
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Really enjoyed this memoir by a #NativeAmerican woman that I read with #SheSaid a few months ago. #NovemberNarrative @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs Well done 👍🏼 2y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Pickpick

This book covers so many tough topics, substance abuse and the generational trauma & physical abuse buried behind that. All must be unburied and cleansed on the hard road of recovery, yet it is somehow still so compelling it‘s hard to put down. Knott manages to be open and vulnerable, while also being direct and tough. I‘m very glad she found the way and the will to write this, and that I had the good luck to stumble onto a review and read it.

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vlwelser
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Pickpick

❤🤐

I know some of you all are behind schedule. But I loved this.

#SheSaid @Riveted_Reader_Melissa

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Hello #SheSaid.

I‘m behind myself this week, away on an unexpected vacation! So carry on the good discussion, and I‘ll catch up and join in later this week when we get a rainy afternoon ;~)

vlwelser I loved this book. And she's so brave to tell her story. I do want to educate myself more on the residential schools, as she suggests. I love that she ends with healing. Overall I really like how this was written. 2y
ravenlee I‘m amazed that Knott made such a difficult tale such a compelling read. How can you take addiction, abuse, despair, and turn it into a story that makes me not want to put the book down? Agree with @vlwelser that I need to continue my self-education on residential schools and violence against Indigenous women. 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Finally got a chance to finish this one up myself and I have to agree with you all, such difficult subject matter and yet such a compelling read. And I loved the way she ended it in this final section, with change, the positives, and the ability to forgive oneself which is often the hardest thing to do. 2y
37 likes5 comments
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IndoorDame
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Pickpick

This was a difficult read. Not only because the trauma recounted was so repeated and unrelenting, but also because the amorphous writing structure that only coalesces at the end perfectly encapsulates her experience, so as the reader you also experience the echoes of her journey with startling immediacy. This is a brave, unflinching book. Thank you to whoever chose it #shesaid

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ravenlee
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Pickpick

An intense read but an important one, Knott takes us on a nonlinear journey through her struggles to get sober and her history that shapes why she struggles. The trauma she endured, the systemic failures, the hopelessness of addiction - man, it was tough. But the end, when she starts to work it all out and discover her worth, made it all worthwhile. #SheSaid

AllDebooks Great review. I 2y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Hello #SheSaid How are you all doing today?

This essay had a different feel to me compared to the one in part 1… I still found it a page turning read though.

How did you feel about it? How‘s the book progressing for you?

ravenlee This section made me feel like I‘m putting more of the pieces together and starting to see the whole picture. Like the nonlinear bits earlier are sorting themselves out. 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @ravenlee Yes, filling in some of the gaps and backstory. I really liked that she brought in some of the historical generational pain/trauma, which we often don‘t talk about enough or talk about like it was ancient history and not still relevant anymore. 2y
vlwelser I maybe only did half of the reading this week. But I do love it and thank you to whoever found this. 2y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Hello #SheSaid! Happy weekend to you all!

I‘m not sure how everyone else is doing, but there is something about the way she writes this that I just fall into. It should all be a bit much, lots of trigger worthy events & references, but somehow I just get sucked in and keep flipping the pages. I‘m very curious about the next section, does that style continue. And I have to say that i think she‘s a bit brave to write out hitting bottom and why.

vlwelser So brave. And I was totally sucked in. She does all these amazing things but addiction and her past experiences (sexual abuse) make her feel unworthy. It's an amazing gift to be able to see inside her head. 2y
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IndoorDame I was similarly drawn in by the writing. My library hold on this one just came in a few days ago so I‘ve had a lot of catching up to do, and the first few chapters did feel like maybe this was too much and I should just put it aside, but it wasn‘t long before her voice drew me in and I just kept turning pages. 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @vlwelser Yes, and the fact that she can write it in a way that we see both…both the amazing life and events, and yet the inner dialogue inside and how that wears someone down. I think it might be one of the best accounts of addiction I‘ve read yet, how much is chemical addiction and how much it mentally plays with you to become dependence. 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @IndoorDame Yes, exactly… if I just described the content it wouldn‘t sound like a page turner, and yet it is. I have a hard time putting this one down at the end of each section. 2y
staci.reads @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I'm sitting this month out - actually taking a break from all challenges except LMPBC. Last month was a terrible reading month, so this month I'm treating myself to all "my choice" reads from my massive tbr piles. Keep me tagged though please. I'll enjoy reading everyone's reactions. 2y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @staci.reads I‘ve had to do that too, recently actually….you definitely need to take care of you too. And sometimes the best thing is to take a mental health break for yourself and read for escapism and fun for awhile. 2y
MoonWitch94 I‘m a bit behind, but I absolutely agree. The writing is makes it hard to stop but feels like it shouldn‘t be that way, given the content. 2y
MallenNC I think she‘s a great writer and is sharing her story in a really compelling way. I did struggle with the first chapter in this week‘s section because she was just destructing so much w/o much help. I felt a lot of sympathy for her at the same time. This is a tough read. 2y
Suet624 I‘ve said it before but I ❤️❤️ this book. 2y
ravenlee The writing definitely is absorbing. When I get to the end of the week‘s section, though, I do feel like I‘m letting out a breath (what‘s that overdone phrase - letting out a breath I didn‘t know I was holding?🤣). It lets me step back and come out from under this spell of Helen‘s addiction. It does feel almost magical, spellbinding. 2y
KathyWheeler I‘m behind but hope to catch up this week. It‘s very good. 2y
44 likes13 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Hello #SheSaid!
Some Trigger Warnings for this one, but I have to say that I had a hard time putting this one down at the end of our section… I wanted to just keep reading, which is always a good sign.

How did everyone else make out with the beginning of this new book this week?

MallenNC Same here. She‘s dealt with a lot of trauma already and I‘m anxious to see how she gets from there to being the author of this book. And the third chapter ends with introducing a new person who I want to know about. 2y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC Yes, I definitely had trouble putting it down there. 2y
vlwelser I'm impressed with the writing so far. And her bravery in telling her story. 2y
ravenlee I also wanted to keep going. Her writing is very compelling. Usually disjointed timelines bother me, but the way her story is unraveling feels very natural. I hate that she can say “my most recent rape.” The family legacy of alcoholism is so sad and disturbing. 2y
kspenmoll I really would love to read this but I just returned to work so hope to rejoin in Oct. 2y
megnews I found the language in the introduction almost poetic. Her writing is very moving. I had trouble putting it down too. Anxious read the next section. 2y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Next up for September #SheSaid!

Put in your library holds and request your interlibrary loans!

vlwelser I'm going to be in Iceland for that first one, but I will try to stay caught up. And also 🤗😘 2y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa @vlwelser Oh that‘s exciting! Post pictures for us please. 🥰 2y
vlwelser If you email your address to my user name at gmail.com you may even get a postcard.... 2y
Suet624 Believe it or not I read this book about 2 years ago. I could not put it down. i should try to find it again and do a reread. 2y
MallenNC @Suet624 That‘s a good endorsement of this book! I‘m looking forward to it 2y
Suet624 @MallenNC lots of trigger warnings for those who need to know that. 2y
megnews It‘s been awhile but I got a library copy and I hope to be able to keep up. 2y
AllDebooks I'm going to have to pass on this one, can't find a free copy in UK. I will still follow discussions though x 2y
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Lindy
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Helen Knott says she was an adult before she learned that not every Indigenous girl experiences sexual violence. She says this memoir is especially aimed at women like her who have struggled with addiction as a way of coping with trauma. It‘s a story not only of survival but of triumph & accomplishment. Knott is of Dane-Zaa, Nehiyaw, Métis & European descent & grew up in northern BC. She reads her own #audiobook. #Canadian #Indigenous

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Lindy
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I spent most of yesterday sewing myself some funky trousers (made from a thrift store duvet cover). #audiocrafting

Leftcoastzen Very cool! 3y
Lindy @Leftcoastzen thanks! 3y
Centique So cool! 3y
Lindy @Centique Thank you! 3y
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Reynosa8701
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This book is very heavy but I like it hope to finish by the end of this weekend!

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Skygoddess1
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Pickpick

Wow! Helen Knott‘s memoir delivers a swift punch to the gut but makes it so you can‘t look away and can‘t help but root for Helen on her journey to sobriety. TWs for: rape, child molestation, self harm, alcohol and drug abuse, mention of suicide, mention of residential schools, racism. Such a moving, powerful and must read. #BookSpinBingo

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 4y
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Karisa
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So cool! I have never read her book but seeing this (and the follow up posts she made) on Twitter makes me love this author!

TheKidUpstairs This totally makes me want to read her book! 4y
wanderinglynn So fun! 4y
BennettBookworm That‘s so charming!! 4y
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chelreads
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Pickpick

WOW. This memoir was incredible. Helen is such a beautiful writer and her story is powerful. Not a book that I will forgot.

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chelreads
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1. In My Own Moccasins by Helen Knott
2. Harry Potter ⚡️
3. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

#WeekendReads @rachelsbrittain

rachelsbrittain I've read the book but I still need to watch the Guernsey movie! 4y
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Augustdana
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Holy shit this one is bowling me over.

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Suet624
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Pickpick

This Canadian Indigenous poet, states “I did not write this book so that people can learn how to humanize Indigenous women and gain context for the violence that seems to fill our lives.” She wrote this for Indigenous women. It‘s a powerful memoir of sexual violence, addiction and generational grief, self-sabotage, loss of culture, and ultimately her healing and sobriety. “You are worthy of all that is good. You are worth a thousand horses.” 🔽

Suet624 I could not put this book down. There are many trigger warnings though. 5y
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