"From Stilettos to Moccasins" a song from Violet Naytowhow and a unique group of Aboriginal women"

The premiere release of the song entitled "From Stilettos to Moccasins", sung by Violet Naytowhow, and which portrays the healing experiences of Aboriginal women who have struggled with drug abuse and addiction, is now available. An unplugged version was played for a CBC radio interview on May 13 and can be download at CBC Morning Edition. The song was officially released at a public gathering later that evening in Saskatoon, SK. You can access the song, its music video, and information on the project by clicking here ( http://www.addictionresearchchair.com/creating-knowledge/national/cihr-r... ). If you would like to provide feedback on the project, you can send it to fromstilettostomoccasins@live.com

In collaboration with Naytowhow, the song was written earlier this year by Aboriginal women who are healing from illicit drug abuse and problems with the law, and those who are helping them on their journey. The song is part of an addictions research project being conducted by the National Native Addictions Partnership Foundation, the University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. The research project examined the role that identity and stigma have in the healing journeys of criminalized Aboriginal women in treatment for drug abuse at centres across Canada. A workshop for women currently accessing treatment is in the planning stage and will be available in Winter, 2010.

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 hopes to reclaim
Walking the streets dragging my heart
Wandering with my head held down in shame
When and how did my family fall apart
Who am I, what is my name?
BRIDGE:
Surviving the street lost and alone
I started a journey to find my way home
CHORUS:
From stilettos to moccasins
Our spirit dances within
On our way to resolution
We find our peace
And this is who I am
Broken barriers and new discoveries
My spirit I now reclaim
Coming home to who I am
Taking honour in my name
No longer a prisoner lost in this world
Look within my shell
To find that pearl
CHORUS:
From stilettos to moccasins
Our spirit dances within
On our way to resolution
We find our peace
And this is who I am

Download "From Stilettos to Moccasins" (mp3)