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. 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.
