“Kímmapiiyipitssini is heartbreaking but should be mandatory viewing for policy makers to understand what opioids are doing to families. I raise my hands to Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, for being an unflinching witness to the dreams and struggles of her relatives.”
“…a soaring portrait of tragedy and resilience, yes, but also a handbook for healing that those of us in the privileged classes could learn a lesson or two from.”
“It helped me to better understand how we can help break the trauma cycle by helping adults with harm reduction. I now look at all my native students differently.”
“The film was very educational for me. I had no idea that the reduction method worked so well to give the person the ability to function in society.”
"I am truly grateful to be here today. I am overwhelmed and completely inspired by the film. To be honest, I felt as though I was transported back into various stages in my early years and into my adult experiences. My dream is that we can offer wrap-around support for all of our people in our "own" communities through our lens. My heart is full and I raise my hands to all those whom were part of bringing this work forward. Thank you for your words, for your courage and willingness to share our lived experiences in this most uplifting and meaningful way. Sharing my gratitude and acknowledgement for those whom we have lost and are in the spirit world. I am proud to be apart of the transformative knowledge and work ahead of us. Thank you thank you thank you. I release my tears as we are part of the healing and change.”
“I’ve been waiting so long to watch this documentary. I was in Kainai healing lodge when they filmed there. I am still on my healing journey and just seeing myself I cried and it was a reminder of how lost I was. Now I am an outreach worker in inner city Edmonton. I truly believe in harm reduction and safe supply. hiy hiy”
“I gained a greater understanding of the intergenerational trauma that I didn’t fully understand before. It expanded my empathy for those struggling with these issues in our community.”
“I suppose the biggest take-away for me was during the panel discussion, when Dr. Esther Tailfeathers stated, ‘as long as the harms continue, so will our addictions.’ It shifts the drug poisoning crisis to a trauma crisis.”
“I have a greater understanding of why addiction is higher in Indigenous population than others as it relates to genocide, colonial residential school trauma and systemic racism and generational loss and how this puts Indigenous Peoples at a higher risk of addiction over the course of their lives.”
“I held many unfair and extremely biased stereotypes of Indigenous individuals prior to learning more about the harms they have and still are experiencing in this country. It's appalling and I want to learn more and teach others.”