About Us - National Council of Indigenous Midwives

Bring Birth Back to Indigenous Communities

NCIM National Forum 2024

In February 2024, the National Council of Indigenous Midwives hosted another national forum on Indigenous midwifery and birth! The forum included a variety of topics and perspectives from community stories and initiatives to research and policy. NCIM created a space for people to connect together for two days of knowledge and inspiration.

SCHEDULE 

NCIM NATIONAL FORUM – FEBRUARY 27TH AND 28TH 2024

12:00 Day 1: Event Opening Day 2 Opening remarks
12:15 Birthing in Power; Cassondra’s Home Birth in Kitigan Zibi Anishinaabeg
12:30
12:45 Indigenous midwifery research through narratives: A discussion of Indigenous Midwifery digital stories
13:00
13:15 Irnisuksiijiit – Our Right: Returning Birth to Inuit Communities
13:30 Métis Nation Sask-Midwifery and Birthing Centre
13:45 15 Minute Break 15 Minute Break
14:00
Journeying Through Maternity Care: Unveiling Risks and Recommendations for First Nations in Ontario
Returning Innu Midwives and Births to Innu Communities of Labrador
14:15
14:30 The Beautiful Canoe : Storytelling about Indigenous People’s Reproductive Experiences Through Theatre.
14:45 Revitalizing Birthing and Child Rearing Program
15:00 Event Closing
15:15
15:30 Day 1 Wrap up

Recordings of the Forum

Watch full recordings of the NCIM 2024 Forum in one of four languages: English, French, North Baffin, and Nunavik.

ENGLISH

Day 1

Day 2

FRENCH

Day 1

Day 2

NORTH BAFFIN

Day 1

Day 2

NUNAVIK

Day 1

Day 2

Uproot – Addressing colonialism – the greatest barrier to restoring birth

-Recorded on 2023-02-28
The National Council of Indigenous Midwives is hosting a Symposium! Join us to learn more about Addressing Colonialism – the greatest barrier to restoring birth.

Translation will be available in Inuktitut North Baffin as well as Inuktitut Nunavik.

For people who live in an area with unreliable internet connection or low bandwidth, please contact our Logistics Lead Alison Tassignon atassignon@canadianmidwives.org to arrange a mailed USB recording of the symposium if you find yourself unable to join on the day. A recording of the symposium will be available online for areas where internet quality allows for the viewing of videos.

 

Schedule

12:00 – 12:15 pm ET: Opening with Elder Dr. Roberta Price
12:15-12:30 pm ET: Introduction to the symposium with Evelyn George
12:30 – 1:00 pm ET: Midwifery regulation with Claire Dion-Fletcher
1:00 – 1:30 pm ET: Hospital privileges with Melanie Mason
1:30 – 1:45 pm ET: Break/continued discussion
1:45 – 2:15 pm ET: Hidden policies with Karen Lawford
2:15 – 2:45 pm ET: Decolonial processes to bring birth back with Norma Rabbitskin, Chief Christine Longjohn, and Shirley Bighead
2:45 – 3:00 pm ET: Break/continued discussion
3:00 – 3:45 pm ET: Moving forward with Nathalie Pambrun, Carol Couchie and Evelyn George
3:45 – 4:00 pm ET: Closing with Elder Dr. Roberta Price

OUR HISTORY OF BIRTH >>>

Grand Treaty 3 Elder Katherine Fobister discusses birth history in her community.

1:46 | 2014

THE PATH TO MIDWIFERY >>>

NCIM members Evelyn Harney, Nathalie Pambrun and Joyce Leaf share their journey in becoming midwives.

4:26 | 2014

BRINGING BIRTH BACK TO THE COMMUNITY >>>

Aboriginal Midwife and Elder Darlene Birch discusses the process of bringing birth back to the community of Norway House in northern Manitoba.

3:22 | 2014

BUILDING CAPACITY IN ALL COMMUNITIES >>>

Tiffany Adams, a Registered Nurse in Fond‑du‑Lac, Saskatchewan, discusses how having the capacity to provide birth services in rural and remote communities could be safer for both the families and the caregivers involved.

2:52 | 2014

BIRTH: PAST AND PRESENT >>>

NCIM was invited into five communities across Canada to speak about birth, past and present, the return of birth and what that would mean to Aboriginal cultures, health, and nationhood.

7:42 | 2013

RETURN OF BIRTH >>>

NCIM members speak with Indigenous communities about bringing birth back.

7:21 | 2013
Inuit midwives have led the way in the restoration of Indigenous midwifery. Since 1986, Inuit midwives have been the on‑call, primary care providers for maternity care for women along the Hudson Bay coast through the Inuulitsivik Health Center in Nunavik, Quebec.

ABORIGINAL MIDWIFERY >>>

Indigenous midwives speak about the tradition of midwifery and the role of Indigenous midwives today.

6:01 | 2012

Melissa Brown, KOBP graduate in Winnipeg, Manitoba

ABORIGINAL MIDWIFERY EDUCATION >>>

Indigenous midwives speak about the paths they took to midwifery.

4:15 | 2012

ABORIGINAL MIDWIVES >>>

Indigenous midwives speak about birth.

3:28 | 2012
Spirit of Birth

SPIRIT OF BIRTH >>>

The restoration of Indigenous birth practices through the work of SGMT and the Toronto Birth Centre.

11:49 | 2016

Produced by: MAAIINGAN Productions and Frog Girl Films
Directed by: Rebeka Tabobondung