Two new Indigenous-led birthing programs provide new mothers with vital cultural supports

“The western healthcare system is fairly new to us – our mothers didn’t start going to hospitals until probably 60 years ago. But we’ve always had midwives and our own experts,” said Sturgeon Lake First Nation Chief Christine Longjohn.

“It’s important that we recognize that we have that right as mothers. We never gave up that right to be able to birth in our own community.”

Shirley Bighead Nihāwiki and Ohpikihāwasowin Birthing and Child Rearing Lodge at Sturgeon Lake First Nation. (Image Credit: Submitted/Tina Pelletier)

Members of Sturgeon Lake previously had to travel 45 kilometres to Prince Albert, or 180 kilometres to Saskatoon to give birth. This often meant family, culture, and vital supports remained in the home community.

“Mothers no longer need to travel, give birth by themselves surrounded by unfamiliar people,” said Longjohn. “This way, we’ve designed our birthing pods so the midwife, the birth support worker, the family, aunts, sisters, kookums, can be there to support the mom during birth.”

According to Longjohn, around 15-20 years ago, Elders in Sturgeon Lake began working to restore traditional child-rearing and birthing practices after recognizing that many families’ needs were not being met by the healthcare system.

They drew on Elders’ memories, community knowledge, and traditional teachings to reclaim practices that had been disrupted by residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, forced sterilization, and other colonial policies.

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by NC Raine/EFN Media

Two new Indigenous-led birthing programs provide new mothers with vital cultural supports

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