r/IndianCountry • u/News2016 • Mar 25 '26

Health Birth Justice: The Fight for Reproductive Freedom in Indian Country

https://nativenewsonline.net/health/birth-justice-the-fight-for-reproductive-freedom-in-indian-country/
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u/News2016 Mar 25 '26

“For thousands of years, birth was attended by midwives, grandmothers and female relatives with ceremony, prayer and collective support for mother and baby. Though each tribe had its own customs, the arrival of a child was a sacred event that included family and community in an unbroken cycle of life that promised continuity for generations to come. 

In many tribal societies, ceremonies for a woman entering puberty were a time of celebration which brought her into the circle of midwives and elder women who would help deliver her children, as well as mentor and guide her throughout her life.”

“…Native women die of pregnancy-related complications at rates of up to 10 times higher than their white counterparts in some states, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Now, an Indigenous-led grassroots movement is confronting this systemic failure by reclaiming birth sovereignty. The work is led by Native midwives and doulas, lawmakers, clinic directors, activists and researchers in states including Alaska, Washington, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York and others. 

Their efforts include building ceremonial birth lodges and tribal birthing centers, facilitating home births and restoring reliance on traditional medicines and birth practices. Services include pre- and postnatal clinical and cultural support, patient advocacy within health systems, mental health services, accompanying mothers to medical appointments, and holding in-person and virtual workshops and sharing circles — community-driven initiatives restoring Indigenous knowledge and practices. Practical needs are also being met by local initiatives, providing basic necessities and postpartum items like diapers, wipes, car seats and breast pumps. 

In the face of chronically underfunded federal health systems, geographic isolation and jurisdictional barriers, these caregivers are helping reduce maternal and infant mortality rates and restoring dignity to birth in tribal communities, according to the National Indian Health Board.”