Indigenous Midwifery
At Countryside, we understand that we are working and living on lands which are not ours. We are working hard to learn more about the communities of traditional peoples who rightfully claim this land, and ways we can actively work towards reconciliation for years of trauma, prejudice, and active oppression.
We know that midwifery has been a traditional practice in indigenous communities around the globe, and colonial practices have removed access to safe community, and culturally based care from many areas in Canada. We have a lot of work to do in order to support the Indigenous midwives in Ontario and across the country. The immense privilege to catch babies and care for families in this community is not one we take lightly.
Our catchment area is large, and Countryside midwives work across lands of many indigenous communities including the Anishinabewaki, Mississauga, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Odawa, and Petun.
Video by the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives on Aboriginal Midwifery
The best source for information on Indigenous midwifery in Canada, is from the NACM- National Council of Aboriginal Midwives. The midwives who make up the NACM have worked for decades to support midwives in restoring birth in their communities. We recommend you spend some time learning about their organization, ways to support indigenous midwifery via their website. The following are a few of our favourite links from their site.
Video Series from the NACM: