Firewater : how alcohol is killing my people (and yours) / Harold R. Johnson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Johnson, Harold, 1957-2022, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Indians of North America--Alcohol use--Canada.

Indians of North America.

Alcoholism--Social aspects--Canada.

Alcoholism.

Alcoholism--Treatment--Canada.

Drinking of alcoholic beverages--Social aspects--Canada.

Drinking of alcoholic beverages.

Drinking of alcoholic beverages--History.

Spiritual healing.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 180 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada : University of Regina Press, [2016]

Summary:

Drawing on his years of experience as a Crown Prosecutor in Treaty 6 territory, Harold Johnson challenges readers to change the story we tell ourselves about the drink that goes by many names─booze, hooch, spirits, sauce, and the evocative "firewater." Confronting the harmful stereotype of the "lazy, drunken Indian," and rejecting medical, social and psychological explanations of the roots of alcoholism, Johnson cries out for solutions, not diagnoses, and shows how alcoholism continues to kill so many. Provocative, irreverent, and keenly aware of the power of stories, Firewater calls for people to make decisions about their communities and their lives on their own terms.

Contents:

Front

CONTENTS

PREFACE: THE AUTHOR'S FIRST WORDS TO HIS READERS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A LONG TIME AGO

WÎSAHKICÂHK'S LOST STORIES

HOW ALCOHOL IS KILLING MY PEOPLE

1. SO THE STORY GOES

2. WHO AM I TO SPEAK?

3. THE DRUNKEN INDIAN STORY

4. A LITTLE BIT MORE HISTORY TO HELP PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE

5. A TIME BEFORE ALCOHOL KILLED OUR PEOPLE

6. GOING TO THE GRAVEYARD

7. THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES AND THE SUPREME COURT

8. FOUR MODELS

9. THE TRICKSTER IN THE STORY

10. BEING FRANK: EXPOSING THE PROBLEM

11. COSTS OF THE ALCOHOL STORY

12. EMPLOYMENT

13. THE STORY WE TELL OURSELVES

14. THE STORY

TELL THEMSELVES

15. ADDICTIONS

16. THE LAND

17. IT'S ALL ONLY A STORY

18. BANNING ALCOHOL

19. TREATMENT

20. LEADERSHIP

21. THE STORYTELLER

22. HEALING

23. COMMUNITY

24. THE SOBER HOUSE AND THE SOBER COMMUNITY

LETTERS FROM OUR SCOUTS, THE ARTISTS

A LETTER FROM TRACEY LINDBERG

A LETTER FROM RICHARD VAN CAMP

FOR THE FUTURE

WÎSAHKICÂHK RETURNS TO FIND OUT HE IS STORY

APPENDIX: TREATY NO. 6

INDEX.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780889774384

0889774382

OCLC:

953887167