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By Helen Knott. 2019
A nationally bestselling book on the struggle of addiction and the power of Indigenous resilience. 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. "In My Own Moccasins never flinches. The story goes dark, and then darker. We live in an era where Indigenous women routinely go missing, our youth are killed and disposed of like trash, and the road to justice doesn’t seem to run through the rez. Knott’s journey is familiar, filled with the fallout of residential school, racial injustice, alcoholism, drugs, and despair. But she skillfully draws us along and opens up her life, her family, and her communities to show us a way forward. It’s 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) “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 This Accident of Being Lost “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 WomenhoodBy Julie S. Lalonde. 2020
For over a decade, Julie Lalonde, an award-winning advocate for women’s rights, kept a secret. She crisscrossed the country, denouncing…
violence against women and giving hundreds of media interviews along the way. Her work made national headlines for challenging universities and taking on Canada’s top military brass. Appearing fearless on the surface, Julie met every interview and event with the same fear in her gut: was he there?Fleeing intimate partner violence at age 20, Julie was stalked by her ex-partner for over ten years, rarely mentioning it to friends, let alone addressing it publicly. The contrast between her public career as a brave champion for women with her own private life of violence and fear meant a shaky and exhausting balancing act.Resilience sounds like a positive thing, so why do we often use it against women? Tenacity and bravery might help us survive unimaginable horrors, but where are the spaces for anger and vulnerability?Resilience is Futile is a story of survival, courage and ultimately, hope. But it’s also a challenge to the ways we understand trauma and resilience. It’s the story of one survivor who won’t give up and refuses to shut up.By Emma Hansen. 2020
“Still is one of those rare books that catches you up and does not let you go. With grace, courage,…
and honesty, Emma Hansen adds an important voice to this tragic and too-often silenced subject. I loved this book.” —Beth Powning, author of Shadow Child: An Apprenticeship in Love and Loss A moving, candid account of one woman’s experience with stillbirth.Emma Hansen is 39 weeks and 6 days pregnant when she feels her baby go quiet inside of her. At the hospital, her worst fears are confirmed: doctors explain that her baby has died, and she will need to deliver him, still.Hansen gives birth to her son, Reid, amidst an avalanche of grief. Nine days later, she publishes a candid essay on her website sharing photos from the delivery room. Much to her surprise, her essay goes viral, sparking positive reactions around the world. Still shares what comes next: a struggle with grief and confusion alongside a desire to better understand stillbirth, which is experienced by more than two million women annually, but rarely talked about in public.At once honest, brave, and uplifting, Still is about one woman’s search for her own definition of motherhood, even as she faces one of life’s greatest challenges: learning to live after loss.By Séan McCann, Andrea Aragon. 2020
This deeply personal memoir, co-written by singer- songwriter, renowned mental health advocate, and recent Order of Canada recipient Séan McCann…
and wife Andrea Aragon leaves no stone unturned. Detailing in powerful and lyrical prose a Newfoundland childhood indoctrinated in strict Catholic faith, the creation of the wildly successful Great Big Sea, and the battle with alcoholism that nearly cost them everything, McCann and Aragon offer readers a story of reaching international fame and finding rock bottom. Most of all, this book is an honest, raw, and inspiring tribute to embracing the belief that we are all worth saving. At the heart of this insightful coming-of-recovery is McCann’s exploration of the root cause of his alcoholism; a secret he kept until 2014 when he came out as a survivor of sexual abuse. Aragon’s parallel narrative offers a rare and intimate spousal perspective, making the memoir a nuanced and complex portrait of the effects of addiction on family. Featuring lyrics from McCann’s celebrated solo career, personal colour photographs, and original drawings from visual artist Bee Stanton, One Good Reason is a rallying cry for holding on to the ones you love, helping yourself, and turning music into medicine.By Benjamin Perrin. 2020
NATIONAL BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED for the 2021 BC Book Awards' George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in LiteratureSHORTLISTED for the BC and…
Yukon Book Prizes, for both the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize and Jim Deva Prize for Writing That ProvokesSHORTLISTED for the 2021 J. W. Dafoe Book Prize“Overdose is a necessary and searching investigation into a devastating epidemic that should never have happened. Benjamin Perrin painstakingly shows that it need not continue if we, as a society, heed the evidence.”—Gabor Maté M.D., author of In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With AddictionAn astonishing and powerful look at the ongoing opioid crisis North America is in the middle of a health emergency. Life expectancies are declining. Someone is dying every two hours in Canada from illicit drug overdose. Fentanyl has become a looming presence—an opioid more powerful, pervasive, and deadly than any previous street drug. The victims are many—and often not whom we might expect. They include the poor and forgotten but also our neighbours: professionals, students, and parents. Despite the thousands of deaths, these victims have remained largely invisible. But not anymore. Benjamin Perrin, a law and policy expert, shines a light in this darkest of corners—and his findings challenge many assumptions about the crisis. Why do people use drugs despite the risk of overdosing? Can we crack down on the fentanyl supply? Do supervised consumption sites and providing “safe drugs” enable the problem? Which treatments work? Would decriminalizing all drugs help or do further harm? In this urgent and humane look at a devastating epidemic, Perrin draws on behind-the-scenes interviews with those on the frontlines, including undercover police officers, intelligence analysts, border agents, prosecutors, healthcare professionals, Indigenous organizations, activists, and people who use drugs. Not only does he unveil the many complexities of this situation, but he also offers a new way forward—one that may save thousands of lives.By Lois Peterson, Taryn Gee. 2021
Part of the Orca Think series for middle-grade readers, this book answers the questions young people have about homelessness and…
its causes, effects, possible solutions and what we can all do help.By Robert Earl Stewart. 2022
Robert Earl Stewart weighs 368 pounds and struggles to catch his breath while talking. He starts running to save his…
life. Along the way he loses 140 pounds, ends up in jail, and eventually runs the Detroit Free Press Half-Marathon.By Melanie Siebert. 2020
? “Informative, diverse, and highly engaging; a much-needed addition to the realm of mental health.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review Featuring real-life…
stories of people who have found hope and meaning in the midst of life’s struggles, Heads Up: Changing Minds on Mental Health is the go-to guide for teenagers who want to know about mental health, mental illness, trauma and recovery. For too long, mental health problems have been kept in the shadows, leaving people to suffer in silence, or worse, to be feared, bullied or pushed to the margins of society where survival is difficult. This book shines a light on the troubled history of thinking about and treating mental illness and tells the stories of courageous pioneers in the field of psychiatry who fought for more compassionate, respectful and effective treatments. It provides a helpful guide to the major mental health diagnoses along with ideas and resources to support those who are suffering. But it also moves beyond a biomedical focus and considers the latest science that shows how trauma and social inequality impact mental health. The book explores how mental health is more than just “in our heads” and includes the voices of Indigenous people who share a more holistic way of thinking about wellness, balancing mind, body, heart and spirit. Highlighting innovative approaches such as trauma-informed activities like yoga and hip-hop, police mental health teams, and peer support for youth, Heads Up shares the stories of people who are sparking change.By Margo Talbot. 2020
World-renowned ice climber Margo Talbot shares her compelling story of healing and self-discovery amid the frozen landscapes of the planet.…
Born and raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Margo Talbot grew up with a distant mother who “ruled the household with her eyes”; a father who opted to spend much of his time away from home; and four siblings struggling to deal with their particular domestic situation. As a result of her family’s dysfunction and her own growing mental illness, young Margo rarely smiled, had difficulty connecting with others, and was plagued with a black wave of anger and sadness that overshadowed much of the world around her. In time, drugs, alcohol, sex, and violence became her primary ways to connect with herself and others. From the depths of suicidal depression and a conversation with Death, Talbot eventually found solace and redemption in both the healing power of nature and the glory of climbing frozen landscapes in some of the world’s most pristine and challenging environments. Heartbreaking, honest, energizing, and inspiring All That Glitters is a remarkable memoir that shines a fresh light of hope on mental illness.By Tara McGuire. 2022
Holden After and Before is a moving meditation on grief in the same vein as Helen Macdonald's H is for…
Hawk: a stunning book that traces Tara McGuire's excavation and documentation of the life path of her son Holden, a graffiti artist who died of an accidental opioid overdose at the age of twenty-one. Beginning with Holden's death and leaping through time and space, McGuire employs fact, investigation, memory, fantasy, and even fabrication in her search for understanding not only of her son's tragic death, but also of his beautiful life. She navigates and writes across the many blank spaces to form a story of discovery and humanity, examining themes of grief, pain, mental illness, trauma, creative expression, identity, and deep, unending love inside just one of the thousands of deaths that have occurred as a result of the opioid crisis. With poignant honesty and a heart laid bare, Holden After and Before is a beautiful and moving elegy to a son lost to overdose.By Human Rights Watch. 2003
Sexual abuse of girls in Zambia fuels the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the strikingly higher HIV prevalence among girls than boys,…
Human Rights Watch said today. Concerted national and international efforts to protect the rights of girls and young women are key to curbing the AIDS epidemic's destructive course.By Glade B. Curtis, Judith Schuler. 2009
Pregnancy can be a thrilling adventure for a couple. Although most attention is directed toward the mom-to-be, the nine months…
of pregnancy are an exciting, moving and, yes, occasionally stressful!time for the expectant father as well. Written with the needs and concerns of the dad-to-be in mind, this book includes a comprehensive glossary of terms, a resource section, up-to-date medical information, and tips for supporting your partner during pregnancy and the birth of your new baby. It will also help you be the best father you can be by covering such topics as: The tests and procedures your partner may undergo The impact of pregnancy on your relationship and how to handle it Ways to evaluate the expenses of having a baby How to be a great labor coachBy Lakshmy Ramanathan. 2015
In India the arrival of a child is not very different from a wedding It is a family…
event that every one looks forward to with great eagerness and enthusiasm Each family member also knows of an age-old custom or belief they know to have benefited expectant mothers and newborns But how does a first-time mother balance quirky community-based rituals alongside New Age scientific norms For Bumpier Times is an attempt to capture the complexities of being pregnant in our society and to arm you with information that enables you to make empowered decisions By recording 101 practices from across the country and by having them reviewed by an eminent panel of doctors and experts the book hopes to dismiss your doubts and fears trace the origin behind these myths and beliefs and keep up with the latest in childbirth and care to help you achieve that balance crucial to welcoming your little one into your culture and world Written in an easy-to-understand Q A format Ramanathan has managed to create an elaborate guide on pregnancy and childcare specific to Indian mothersBy Sandy K. Wurtele. 2011
Though children grow older, concerns about the danger of sexual abuse may persist for some parents. This accessible manual provides…
help in continuing discussions about personal safety with preteens and teens, and it alerts parents to the issues of online predators, sexting, and sexual exploitation—especially in what appear to be romantic relationships. It also provides practical advice for those who want to ensure that their children are safe with the parents’ own friends or romantic partners. Safe Connections, with its detailed lists of warning signs that an adolescent is being abused or is becoming an abuser, is ideal for use in school safety curricula.By Paul Thomas, Jennifer Margulis. 2018
If anyone you know is struggling with addiction or if you think you might have a problem …
you want to read this book GARTH STEIN bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain a proven comprehensive program that compassionately guides the reader to a place of resolution DAVID PERLMUTTER MD 1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain and Brain Maker a massive achievement and a giant step forward for addiction medicine ANNIE GRACE author of This Naked Mind Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under fifty Even as opiate addiction skyrockets more people than ever before are hooked on alcohol sedatives cigarettes and even screens The face and prevalence of addiction has changed and evolved but our solutions to addiction are stuck in the past We ve been treating addiction as a black or white issue a disease you either suffer from or will never suffer from The problem with this model is that it doesn t account for the incredible forces working against all of us pushing all of us toward addiction stress undernourishment sleep-deprivation vitamin D deficiency and isolation not to mention a flawed medical system and corrupt pharmaceutical companies doling out prescriptions at every turn The truth Addiction is a disease that like many others exists on a spectrum We are more vulnerable to becoming addicted to substances at certain points in our lives and based on the evidence provided in The Addiction Spectrum most effective at kicking addiction when we take a holistic approach With the help of the 13-point plan and individual protocols detailed in this book you have the power to change your destiny No one understands this more than Dr Paul Thomas who recovered from alcohol addiction early in his career and founded one of the most effective rehabilitation centers for teens and young adults in his hometown of Portland OR Named one of the top family doctors and one of the top pediatricians in the country Dr Paul is also board-certified in both integrative medicine and addiction medicine This unique combination of specialties is intentional Dr Paul has devoted his entire life and career to saving lives Using the best conventional medicine alongside the new science of alternative health Dr Paul has treated thousands of patients with the life-saving solutions provided in The Addiction Spectrum Addiction is a compendium of often devastating circumstances that have gone unchecked by society for far too long This book is a positive light and guide to overcoming not only addiction but the challenges and obstacles that affect us allBy Betty Mclellan. 2017
Ann Hannah was an ordinary, no-nonsense, practical woman. While a constant and caring presence in the life of her granddaughter…
Betty McLellan, she remained emotionally distant.In an effort to understand her grandmother, Betty has used Ann Hannah's everyday expressions as a starting point to uncover the truth about her life. These words and phrases, heard countless times during Betty's childhood, are the clues to a life that, like those of many working-class women in the early 1900s, was fraught with challenges and difficulties and ignored by historians.What did Ann Hannah mean when she said that she was forced to migrate to Australia from England in the 1920s? Why did she remember her husband as a ‘wickid' man? How did she cope with the death of those close to her, including her own son? How did she manage to overcome the struggles and disappointments that punctuated her life?Written with a sharp feminist consciousness that displays both compassion and intellect, this astute psychological biography tells the story of a resilient woman who, when placed in circumstances beyond her control, managed to live a good life. It provides valuable insight into the lives of many (un)remarkable women whose lives may have gone unnoticed but whose experiences shed so much light on the realities faced by women throughout the 1900s.By Gopika Kapoor. 2011
Let your pregnancy be the joyous exciting and spiritual journey it was always meant to be While…
having a baby is a time of great happiness it can also be the most bewildering experience for those involved Luckily this book provides the perfect antidote to all your pregnancy and baby concerns Right from deciding whether to have a baby to choosing the best hospital for the d-day deliveryday Spiritual Pregnancy shows you how to make the most of your pregnancy so that you come through those nine months not only relaxed but also confident and prepared This unique volume shows you the best ways to handle the dilemmas that accompany having a baby while preparing you for the incredible job that lies ahead becoming a parent Allow Gopika Kapoor to share with you the learning from her own journey as a mother of twins and the spiritual insights that guided her Her pragmatic and reassuring voice not only tells you how to deal with surprise pregnancies crazy hormones overbearing relatives and tired sex lives but also gives great advice on baby showers alternative birthing methods post-baby body image and how to stay energized and positive through it all Since parental bonds first form while the baby is still in the womb Spiritual Pregnancy is your guide to making the most of this very special time with your childBy Allan M. Brandt. 2007
From agriculture to big business, from medicine to politics, The Cigarette Century is the definitive account of how smoking came…
to be so deeply implicated in our culture, science, policy, and law. No product has been so heavily promoted or has become so deeply entrenched in American consciousness. The Cigarette Century shows in striking detail how one ephemeral (and largely useless) product came to play such a dominant role in so many aspects of our lives--and deaths.By Patricia Olsen. 2008