Reclaiming
Indigenous Birth
The resurgence of Indigenous midwifery was highlighted in 2017, when Health Canada allocated $6 million (of the total $828 million dollar budget) over five years to fund Indigenous community-based midwifery projects. The funding goal was to address and improve the health outcomes of Indigenous peoples by investing in Indigenous midwifery programs and funding allocation for the recruitment and retention of Indigenous midwife-practitioners.
Indigenous Midwifery is identified as the best practice for maternal health care in Indigenous communities across Canada (Olson and Couchie 2013; NCIM 2013). Culturally appropriate and community-based supports increase better maternal-child health outcomes by ensuring perinatal health access and support throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. Indigenous midwives have built sustainable, perinatal healthcare continuum by providing support to Indigenous women in their home- communities (Couchie and Sanderson 2007; Kornelsen et al. 2010; Lawford and Giles 2012; Olson and Couchie 2013).
National Council of Indigenous Midwives (NCIM) is a diverse group of approximately one hundred and fifty Indigenous midwives, midwife Elders, and student midwives from across Canada. Members include both Registered Midwives (RM) and midwives practicing under certain exception clauses of provincial health legislation. There are currently eleven midwifery practices in Canada dedicated to providing care in Aboriginal Communities.
Research Partners
