Written by Sophia Perez

POint of View:
Indigenous Midwives | Wilson Center

Indigenous midwives can help protect Indigenous mothers from the worse birth outcomes that they face compared to others. In the US, Indigenous women are twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Care from a midwife could eliminate a whopping 83% of maternal and infant death.

One powerful aspect of care from an Indigenous midwife is culturally appropriate care. Simply put, a care provider from one’s own community better understands how to care for an Indigenous mother while honoring the traditional, spiritual, and cultural preferences she might have. Birth evacuations - the practice of removing a mother from her community before she gives birth - is Canadian policy. Understandably, this practice can be difficult for a mother. With the rise of Indigenous midwifery, communities take back their honored practices and support their growing families.

Resource:
Midwifery - Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada

This resource illuminates the sacred importance of Inuit midwives. Inuit children have a special bond with the midwives who helped to bring them into the world. Using traditional storytelling, Inuit community members advocate for the importance of midwives in their communities and detail the many positive effects and challenges of care from Inuit midwives. Women who are evacuated from their homes in favor of Westernized care are separated from their family, community, language, and culture during a difficult trial of their lives. The impassioned speakers emphasize that midwifery care is their right, and it is not the place of outside peoples to infringe upon their culture and practices.

News Story:
Inside the push to end ‘birth evacuations’ in Indigenous communities

In 2022, Ashley Rabbitskin gave birth to her son in her home, with gentle cultural practices encouraging her and welcoming her son into the world. The birth of Ashley’s son marked the first birth in their community in the past 50 years.

Many remote communities do not have access to healthcare providers to assist them through childbirth. Therefore, they must go outside of their communities to give birth. This practice is known as “birth evacuation.” Birth evacuation is intended to make birth safer, but it comes at a hefty cost. Traveling away from the community at a vulnerable time severs Indigenous women from their support network and causes stress. Also, receiving care outside of their communities opens them up to anti-Indigenous discrimination in healthcare. The risk of discrimination in healthcare was the reason Ashley decided to stay in her community for her son’s birth. Because she was able to give birth inside the community, Ashley had more emotional, cultural, and spiritual support.

Ashley was supported by an Indigenous midwife. Long before the place in which she lives was called “Canada,” Indigenous midwives assisted women through birth. More recently, midwives have not been allowed to practice. However, midwifery in Indigenous communities is slowly coming back. The federal government now funds Indigenous midwives and doulas as well as a traditional birthing facility in Ashley’s community. With the uptick in midwifery support, more Indigenous women will be able to welcome their children surrounded by the traditions and support of their community.

Scientific Publication:
Indigenous Doulas: A literature review exploring their role and practice in western maternity care

Similarly to Indigenous midwives, Indigenous doulas can provide a birthing environment steeped in tradition and surrounded by community. Indigenous midwives and doulas can support people giving birth in remote locations, where otherwise they would be evacuated for the birthing process. Doulas bring Indigenous knowledge, traditions, and culturally appropriate care. When Indigenous mothers are supported through birth by care workers within their communities, the colonization of birth is disrupted in favor of cultural reclamation and spiritual preservation. Doulas supporting mothers within Indigenous communities is an act of political resistance and a show of sovereignty in contrast with the policy of birth evacuations. Keeping the birthing rituals in Indigenous communities preserves history, strengthens family, and shows respect for Indigenous culture.