Project 460048

Our goal is to increase and expand the health system's capacity to provide culturally responsive maternal health services, even in places with limited infrastructure. The Indigenous health human resource crisis is something we are responding to as preceptors and instructors in community and university education and health programs. We will train future peer health advocates in traditional birthing methods implemented in their communities and an urban hub. Our team works with child protection workers of pregnant clients to disrupt processes and provide interventions in child welfare practices that help prevent and alleviate infant apprehensions and anxieties. Using a collaborative approach with partner First Nations communities and frontline Indigenous organizations promotes interventions that support the recovery and renewal of cultural and ceremonial traditions associated with pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood, infant and breastfeeding care, and rites of passage. It will serve to remind families and communities who have not had traditional birthing cycles for a generation or more of the protective and healing elements that occur when the traditional birthing cycle is restored. A multidisciplinary research team will reconcile western and traditional approaches to childbirth and train Indigenous women with childbirth experience to serve as peer health advocates in their communities. As role models, PLHIV are practitioners of traditional childbirth practices and rites of passage which help childbirth participants integrate these protective supports into their daily lives. Finally, each participant will be offered an Okawimaw Kanosimowin for their participation. In addition to sacred, traditional, medicinal and practical childbirth aids, the kit will include cultural items, health information and resources, a food mill, and essential postpartum help and materials.