LibGuides: Amplifying Voices in Discourse (AVID): Heart Berries: A Memoir

In the Press

NPR Author Interviews: In 'Heart Berries,' An Indigenous Woman's Chaotic Coming-Of-Age
Published February 11, 2018
The Atlantic: The Necessity of 'Willful Blindness' in Writing
Published February 14, 2018
more...less...
The memoirist Terese Marie Mailhot on how Maggie Nelson’s Bluets taught her to explode the parameters of what a book is supposed to be.
PBS News Hour: How Terese Marie Mailhot Stopped Writing What Other People Wanted
Published January 13, 2020
To the Best of Our Knowledge: When It's Real, The Stakes Are Higher
Shannon Henry Kleiber interviews 'Heart Berries' memoirist, Terese Marie Mailhot
These Photos Helped the Author of 'Heart Berries' Mine Her Memory
Through the courtesy of Terese Marie Mailhot, PBS discusses the photos that helped Mailhot write her powerful and poetic memoir.
Time Magazine: I Rejected Native Grieving Ceremonies My Mother Taught Me When She Died. But Losing Friends During the Pandemic Changed That
Terese Mailhot discusses how she reintroduced native grieving ceremonies back into her life during the COVID pandemic.
PBS News Hour: The Case Against Role Models
Author, Terese Marie Mailhot discusses how her book's popularity affected her view of role models.

Heart Berries: A Memoir

Heart Berries: A Memoir (eBook) by Terese Marie Mailhot; Sherman Alexie (Introduction by); Joan Naviyuk Kane (Afterword by)
ISBN: 9781619023345
Publication Date: 2018-02-06
A powerful, poetic memoir of an Indigenous woman's coming of age on the Seabird Island Band in the Pacific Northwest. Having survived a profoundly dysfunctional upbringing only to find herself hospitalized and facing a dual diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and bipolar II disorder, Terese Marie Mailhot is given a notebook and begins to write her way out of trauma. The triumphant result is Heart Berries, a memorial for Mailhot's mother, a social worker and activist who had a thing for prisoners; a story of reconciliation with her father, an abusive drunk and a brilliant artist who was murdered under mysterious circumstances; and an elegy on how difficult it is to love someone while dragging the long shadows of shame. Mailhot trusts the reader to understand that memory isn't exact, but melded to imagination, pain, and what we can bring ourselves to accept. Her unique and at times unsettling voice graphically illustrates her mental state.
Heart Berries: A Memoir (Audiobook) by Terese Marie Mailhot; Rainy Fields (Narrated by); Sherman Alexie (Introduction by); Joan Naviyuk Kane (Afterword by)
ISBN: 9781977320018
Publication Date: 2018-02-06
Heart Berries is a powerful, poetic memoir of a woman's coming of age on the Seabird Island Indian Reservation in the Pacific Northwest. Having survived a profoundly dysfunctional upbringing only to find herself hospitalized and facing a dual diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar II disorder; Terese Marie Mailhot is given a notebook and begins to write her way out of trauma. The triumphant result is Heart Berries, a memorial for Mailhot's mother, a social worker and activist who had a thing for prisoners; a story of reconciliation with her father-an abusive drunk and a brilliant artist-who was murdered under mysterious circumstances; and an elegy on how difficult it is to love someone while dragging the long shadows of shame.Mailhot trusts us to understand that memory isn't exact, but melded to imagination, pain, and what we can bring ourselves to accept. Her unique and at times unsettling voice graphically illustrates her mental state. As she writes, she discovers her own true voice, seizes control of her story, and, in so doing, reestablishes her connection to her family, to her people, and to her place in the world.

Access Heart Berries @ Your Local Library
If you prefer the print version, use Google Books to discover local libraries in your area that lend the book. Google Books also provides a list of book retailers from whom you may purchase the title.

(Image taken from teresemailhot.com)

Terese Marie Mailhot is a prolific writer and memoirist. Documenting her experience with trauma, abuse, and her journey through mental health healing, Mailhot illustrates how writing saved her life. Mailhot is from Seabird Island Band and is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor in English at Purdue University.

Call for Proposals

Heart Berries: A Memoir is a profound exploration of one indigenous woman’s journey through posttraumatic stress order, bipolar II disorder, and a tumultuous upbringing on Seabird Island Band in the Pacific Northwest. Through the illustrative recounting of her lived experience, Terese Marie Mailhot beautifully captures her journey through healing, recovery, and acceptance.

Following the book discussions, the Amplifying Voices in Discourse (AVID) Committee invites NU alumni, faculty, students, and staff to attend a micro-conference exploring themes related to Heart Berries through engaging presentations delivered by members from the NU Community. The Heart Berries Micro-Conference will occur via Zoom on March 18, 2021, at 1 pm AZT.

Interested in attending? Click here to register.

Information about Submitting a Presentation Proposal:

Click here to submit your Presentation Proposal

AVID invites NU alumni, faculty, students, and staff.
Session titles should be 10 words or less and communicate the presentation’s content.
Proposal submissions must indicate the presentation’s key themes and how they relate to Heart Berries: A Memoir.
Presentation proposal descriptions are limited to 300 words.
The proposal deadline is February 26, 2021.

Review and Acceptance Process

Proposals will be evaluated based on relevance and contribution to the body of knowledge on the related themes of the memoir. Submitters will receive acceptance notifications by March 1, 2021.

Communication

The AVID Committee will communicate via email with the primary presenter. Primary presenters will be responsible for communicating information from AVID to all co-presenters.

Presentation Information

Presenters will receive a PPT template.
Presenters will have 20 minutes to present, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session.
Presentations will occur via Zoom on Thursday, March 18, at 1 pm AZT.

Questions

If you have any additional questions about the submission process, please contact the AVID Committee at avid@ncu.edu.

Discussions

Join us as we amplify Terese Marie Mailhot’s voice by discussing her memoir, Heart Berries. Heart Berries is a prolific illustration of Mailhot’s coming of age on the Seabird Island Band, her battle with posttraumatic stress disorder and family trauma, and her journey through recovery. Part One of this series will review the first half of the memoir (Introduction to Chapter 5). Part Two of this series will review the second half of the memoir (Chapters 6 - Afterword). While we encourage participants to read the memoir, it is not required to join the discussion.

Participate in any aspect of the AVID discussion you’d like – we look forward to your contribution.

Schedule

Join a group of peers to discuss your impressions via Zoom. Select a Part One session and a Part Two session that work best for your schedule.

Heart Berries: A Memoir, Resource Discussion Part One - Monday, January 11 @ 1 pm AZT

Heart Berries: A Memoir, Resource Discussion Part One - Thursday, January 14 @ 5 pm AZT

Heart Berries: A Memoir, Resource Discussion Part Two - Tuesday, February 02 @ 1 pm AZT

Heart Berries: A Memoir, Resource Discussion Part Two - Thursday, February 04 @ 5 pm AZT

Let's Continue the Discussion in the Commons

We would love to hear your thoughts. Connect to these Commons' posts to engage in a community discussion of Heart Berries: A Memoir.

NU Community Forum |

Engage with all members of the NU Community. This is open to NU staff, alumni, students, and faculty.

Native & Indigenous Collective Connections |

Connect with other NICC members to discuss Heart Berries.

Heart Berries Resource Discussion, Part One | January 11, 2021 | 1 pm

Heart Berries Resource Discussion, Part One | January 11, 2021 | 5 pm

Let's Learn!

American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL)
American Indigenous Business Leaders AIBL is the only American Indigenous non-profit organization solely dedicated to empowering business students in the United States.
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) is a national, nonprofit organization focused on substantially increasing the representation of American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, First Nations and other indigenous peoples of North America in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies and careers.
Arizona State University, American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI)
The ASU American Indian Policy Institute is a think-tank with a primary focus on public policy analysis and research, with an emphasis on telecommunications, communications, broadband, digital inclusion, technology for language retention, and communications technology.
Federally Recognized Indian Tribes and Resources for Native Americans
This website provides information about and resources for Native Americans, including a list of the 600 Federally Recognized Indian Tribes throughout the United States.
IllumiNative
Created and led by Native peoples, IllumiNative is a nonprofit initiative designed to increase the visibility of – and challenge the negative narrative about – Native Nations and peoples in American society.
Indian Country Today
Indian Country Today is a daily digital news platform that covers the Indigenous world, including American Indians and Alaska Natives. Indian Country Today is the largest news site that covers tribes and Native people throughout the Americas.
Indian Health Service
The Indian Health Service is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives.
National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC)
NAIHC provides advocacy for housing opportunities and increased funding for Native American housing and community development programs, training in Native house management, on-site technical assistance for Native housing professionals, and research and information services related to Native housing issues and programs.
National Congress of American Indians
The National Congress of American Indians, founded in 1944, is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization serving the broad interests of tribal governments and communities.
National Indian Education Association
The National Indian Education Association advances comprehensive, culture-based educational opportunities for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
Native American Rights Fund (NARF)
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) provides legal assistance to Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide who need representation.
The Native Disability Law Center
The Law Center's mission is to advocate so that the rights of Native Americans with disabilities in the Four Corners area are enforced, strengthened and brought in harmony with their communities.
Native Renewables
Founded in 2016, Native Renewables seeks to provide Native American families with energy independence through renewable energy sources.
Office of Indian Education
The Office of Indian Education (OIE) administers the Indian Education Program of the Office of Elementary & Secondary Education. OIE establishes policies and provides financial and technical assistance for supporting LEAs, Indian tribes and organizations, post- secondary institutions and other entities in meeting the special educational and cultural related academic needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Protect the Sacred
Protect the Sacred is a grassroots initiative to educate and empower Navajo youth and young people throughout Indian Country.
Return to the Heart Foundation
Return to the Heart Foundation is an Indigenous Women-led intermediary grant-making organization. Focusing on Native Women-led initiatives investing in healing through: narrative change, civic engagement, climate justice, and restorative development.
Rising Hearts
Rising Hearts is an indigenous led grassroots group devoted to elevating Indigenous voices and promoting intersectional collaborative efforts across all movements in the fight for racial, social, climate, and economic justice. Rising Hearts is committed to dismantling white supremacy and racism while elevating Indigenous, Black, Brown, Asian, Muslim, Immigrant, Two Spirits, LGBTQ+, & Non-binary people and People with disabilities voices. Primary focuses are to inform, elevate, mobilize, and organize through strategic and targeted advocacy, establishing collaborative partnerships to help create a better and safer future and environment where Indigenous, Black, Brown, Asian, Muslim, Two Spirit, LGBTQ+ Non-binary people, and People with disabilities are visible, heard, and respected.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health
The Office of Minority Health is dedicated to improving the health of racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will help eliminate health disparities.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)
The Bureau of Indian Education serves to provide education opportunities from early childhood through life in accordance with a tribe's need for cultural and economic well-being, in keeping with the wide diversity of Indian tribes and Alaska Native villages as distinct cultural and governmental entities.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ mission is to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes and Alaska Natives.
Well-Read Native
Well-Read Native seeks to elevate indigenous voices in academia and literature, build community through books, and support critical literacy initiatives empowering American Indian, Alaska Native, and First Nations children be storytellers and readers.
We Win: Women Empowering Women for Indigenous Nations
We Win seeks to strengthen and sustain tribal cultures for the benefit and destiny of the children, educate about tribal cultures, the history of native people, the inherent rights we exercise for the good of our people and others, and of current issues that affect our well being, promote honest dignified tribal leadership who reflect pride for those we represent, and support and encourage tribal leadership.

American Indian College Fund
The American Indian College Fund invests in Native students and tribal college education to transform lives and communities.
Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women (CSVANW)
CSVANW is an award winning organization at the forefront to a dynamic approach to the tribal domestic and sexual violence fields that is demonstrating the most effective, creative and innovative ways to address and prevent the cycle of violence within tribal communities.
Cultural Survival
Cultural Survival supports a movement of empowered Indigenous Peoples organizing their communities to engage the international processes, national policies and human rights bodies to respect, protect, and fulfill their rights. This organization is Indigenous-led and has a diverse board of directors bringing experiences from the Indigenous and non-Indigenous worlds to inform our perspectives and scope of work.
Indian Law Resource Center
The Indian Law Resrouce Center provides legal assistance to indigenous peoples of the Americas to combat racism and oppression, to protect their lands and environment, to protect their cultures and ways of life, to achieve sustainable economic development and genuine self-government, and to realize their other human rights.
Indigenous Environmental Network
ndigenous Environmental Network is a network of indigenous, grassroots environmental justice activists, primarily based in the United States. Group members have represented Native American concerns at international events such as the United Nations Climate Change Conferences in Copenhagen and Paris.
International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA)
The International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs is an independent and non-profit international human rights-based membership organization, whose central charter is to endorse and promote the collective rights of the world's indigenous peoples.
National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
The National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Inc. (NIWRC) is a Native-led nonprofit organization dedicated to ending violence against Native women and children. The NIWRC provides national leadership in ending gender-based violence in tribal communities by lifting up the collective voices of grassroots advocates and offering culturally grounded resources, technical assistance and training, and policy development to strengthen tribal sovereignty.
Native American Rights Fund (NARF)
The Native American Rights Fund (NARF) provides legal assistance to Indian tribes, organizations, and individuals nationwide who need representation.
Native Youth and Culture Fund (NYCF)
First Nations launched the NYCF in 2002 with generous support from Kalliopeia Foundation and other foundations and tribal, corporate and individual supporters. The NYCF is designed to enhance culture and language awareness, and promote youth empowerment, leadership and community building.
Survival International
Survival International is a human rights organisation formed in 1969 that campaigns for the rights of indigenous and/or tribal peoples and uncontacted peoples. The organisation's campaigns generally focus on tribal peoples' desires to keep their ancestral lands.

Native Perspective
A blog providing perspectives and resources for Natives by a Native
Native Appropriations
Native Appropriations is a forum for discussing representations of Native peoples, including stereotypes, cultural appropriation, news, activism, and more.

Follow these organizations on Instagram to keep up-to-date on their activities and events.

All My Relations
All My Relations is a team of folks who care about representations, and how Native peoples are represented in mainstream media. Between us we have decades of experience working in and with Native communities, and writing and speaking about issues of representation.
Young and Indigenous Podcast
A podcast created by the youth in the Lummi community geared toward giving themselves a voice, and learning tribal stories, respecting elders, strengthening knowledge of the language, and keeping ancient oral traditions alive within a modern community.
The Cuts with Sterlin Harjo
The Cuts is a regular podcast hosted by filmmaker Sterlin Harjo. Sterlin interviews friends, artists and unique people in a comfortable, conversational setting creating a unique, informative and entertaining look into the lives of his guests.
Red Man Laughing
Red Man Laughing is a podcast created, hosted, and produced by Anishnaabe comedian, Ryan McMahon.
Well for Culture
A podcast created by Thos Collins (Onk-Akimel O'Odham & Wa-Zha-Zhi & Haudenosaunee) and Chelsey Luger (Lakota & Ojibwe).
Indigenous Action
The Indigenous Action podcast is published by the organization, Indigenous Action, which provides strategic communications and direct action support for the Indigenous community's sacred lands defense.