Hawkfeather is a PWUD who has used drugs for 28 years, including opioids (heroine, hydromorphone, morphine, methadone), psychedelics (magic mushrooms and LSD), and stimulants (meth). Hawkfeather currently uses prescription IV hydromorphone and morphine daily and occasionally illicit IV heroin, to help them cope with several mental health issues relating to their eating disorder, gender and body dysmorphia, past trauma and ongoing stress and anxiety about negative law enforcement interactions from their drug use.

Hawkfeather was previously arrested and charged with drug possession and threatened with drug trafficking charges after the RCMP caught them with their large supply of drugs for personal use. Though the charges were eventually dropped in Court in favor of a conditional discharge and parole, this experience still causes Hawkfeather great fear and concern about stigmatization. Hawkfeather has worked in harm reduction and advocated extensively for PWUDs, including as the former Secretary for CAPUD. They believe the Drug Decriminalization action will reinforce that drug use is not a moral failure worthy of criminal sanction, but rather a health issue worthy of compassion and access to appropriate medical treatment and harm reduction.