1. Heal Me Hear:
First Nations Women, Drug Abuse and the
Healing Journey
Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project (#74289)
National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
University of Saskatchewan
Our People, Our Health © 2009

2. Project Background
• Research partnership began in
2005:
Canadian Centre on Substance
Abuse (CCSA)
Carleton University & University
of Saskatchewan
National Native Addictions
Partnership Foundation
(NNAPF)
• Applied Aboriginal
methodology and a community-
based participatory approach to
research
• Mainly First Nations as well as
some Métis and Inuit women
shared their stories

3. What the Literature Tells Us:
A Serious Health Issue
 The relationship between the historical control and oppression
of Aboriginal peoples in Canada and their current
disadvantaged position is well documented (Monture-Angus
2000; Dua 1999; Fleras and Elliott 1996; LaPrairie 1995; Reasons
and Pavlich 1995; York 1992).
 The mortality rate due to violence for Aboriginal women is
three times that of non-Aboriginal women in Canada (Health
Canada 1999).
 Not as well established are explanations of the impact of
historical oppression as it relates to Aboriginal women and
their coming into conflict with the law (Canadian Human
Rights Commission 2003; Dell 2001; Dion-Stout, Kipling, Stout
2001).

4.  The situation is similar for Aboriginal women and illicit
drug use. Though we do know such facts as Aboriginal
women are over-represented in the IDU population in
Canada (Craib et al. 2003; Barlow 2003; Spittal et al.
2002).
 The substance use literature documents stigma and
resulting guilt and shame as barriers for women, in
particular mothers, to accessing treatment (Currie 2001;
Poole and Issac 2001; Padayachee 1998; Copeland 1997;
Grella 1997).
 In a review of the literature conducted for a 2002 forum
on Aboriginal women’s health and addictions services in
Canada, it was concluded that “little focused attention
has been paid to the issue of providing gender-specific
support to Aboriginal women with substance use
problems” (Poole and Trainor 2000:2). This was re-
affirmed in a 2009 meeting (Public Health Agency of
Canada 2009).

5. Aboriginal Women Drug Users in Conflict with the Law:
A Study of the Role of Self-Identity in the
Healing Journey
What are the experiential paths of Aboriginal women in
conflict with the law in the creation and recreation of
their self-identity, accounting for associated role
expectations and stigma, while in treatment for illicit
drug use (defined as the healing journey)?
And how do treatment program workers influence
women’s constitution and reconstitution of their self-
identity and what is the relation to their healing?

6. Doing
Research
by, for and
in balance
with

7. IDENTITY, STIGMA & HEALING

8. FROM STILETTOS TO MOCCASINS
I survived through the pain
Many emotions like waves
Laughing and crying again and again
Honesty, strength, friends and devotion
Showering gifts of hope to reclaim Broken barriers and new discoveries
My spirit I now reclaim
Walking the streets dragging my heart Coming home to who I am
Wandering with my head held down in shame Taking honour in my name
When and how did my family fall apart No longer a prisoner lost in this world
Who am I, what is my name? Look within my shell
To find that pearl
BRIDGE:
Surviving the street lost and alone CHORUS:
I started a journey to find my way home From stilettos to moccasins
Our spirit dances within
CHORUS: On our way to resolution
From stilettos to moccasins We find our peace
Our spirit dances within And this is who I am
On our way to resolution
We find our peace
And this is who I am

9. IDENTITY
 Identity is commonly defined as “The distinguishing character
or personality of an individual”.
(Merriam Webster online: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity)
 An Aboriginal worldview of identity is about understanding
who you ‘really are’ – your reason for being – your self-
identity.
Physical
Emotional
Mental
Spiritual

10. STIGMA
Definition: Negative
attitudes (prejudice)
and negative behaviours
(discrimination) against
specific individuals or
groups of individuals.

11. THE HEALING JOURNEY
Identity Transformation
+
Cultural Understanding
=
The Healing Journey

13. Cedar Lodge
February, 2009

14. A video of the healing journey

15. Colleen Anne Dell, PhD
Department of Sociology & School of Public Health
1015 Arts Building, 9 Campus Drive
Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A5 Canada
Tel: 306- 966-5912
Email: colleen.dell@usask.ca or
fromstilettostomoccasins@live.com
Website: http://www.addictionresearchchair.com
Click on ‘creating knowledge’ and then ‘national’