A Miscarriage Memoir
From an Indigenous Woman's Perspective
by Laurie Decontie

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When Laurie and Joe found out they were going to have a baby, they were very excited. They told a few friends, picked out a name for the baby, and even started a flower garden for their little one. But on the day of her ultrasound, Laurie found out the baby didn’t have a heartbeat. What followed next was the heartbreaking process of miscarriage. In this memoir, Laurie shares some of her most memorable moments, from the time she realized she was losing her baby to her personal healing process. Though writing this book was difficult for Laurie, she feels the topic of miscarriage isn’t discussed enough, causing many women to suffer in silence. She hopes this book will help other women feel more empowered to share their stories. She also hopes her story will help women feel less alone. Told from an Indigenous point of view, A Miscarriage Memoir offers readers insight into a woman’s pain and recovery. It also provides resources and healthy coping tips that First Nations Bands and Tribes can use to support the women in their communities who may feel like they have few options.

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“Raw, luminous, and profoundly moving, this intimate account of an Indigenous woman’s miscarriage weaves personal grief with ancestral strength, reclaiming silence with powerful, poetic truth.” — Wesley (Doods) Cote, MD, CM, CCFP “It is a book on one woman’s journey of healing from a shared knowing of all women who have known a similar loss. The book transcends the medical reference and offers an intimate dive into the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects that are at the core of a healing experience. A highly recommended reading for all Indigenous minded kwewag to help feel understood and supported.” — Debra A. Meness, B.Sc, D.O., Keywaydenokwe (Osteopath and Midewewin healer) “Laurie has provided readers with not only a real time account of her trauma, but also a path forward. She encourages people to sit in their feelings, and prescribes what real trauma informed care should look like. Her words have accomplished the two-eyed seeing approach necessary to navigate Indigenous healing in a modern world. Migwech Laurie. Madjashin Uapikun Kitigan.” — Ursula Cote, RN, BScN, CNeoN(C)

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Laurie Decontie is from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Nation and the Penobscot Nation, and her Indigenous language, culture, and family are precious to her. She has occupied various roles throughout her life, including as an early childhood educator, a receptionist, and a curriculum developer for Algonquin language preservation and revitalization. These positions within her community have helped her keep grounded for mino pimàdiziwin (good life). Laurie can be reached at amiscarriagememoir@gmail.com

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Contributors

Author

Laurie Decontie

Photographer

Alice Beaudoin

Photographer

Debbie Lacasse

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FriesenPress Editions

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