b'TRADITIONAL BIRTHINGTHE REBIRTH OFA growing movement to return to traditional TRADITIONAL Indigenous birthing practices is making a INDIGENOUSprofound difference in the lives of Indigenous womenPRACTICES By Nikita Weiss DayT hroughout history,Despite these challenges, Indigenous800 babies. Indigenous midwifery, for midwives have playedmidwives are continuing to work inus as Anishinaabe people and people of an important role incommunities, preserving and sharing theirTurtle Island, was basically the leadership Indigenous communities.knowledge and expanding their pres- that cared for that doorway of new life, Since contact, however, their practicesence to address the needs of IndigenousCouchie explains. have been restricted and devalued bywomen who face fear of systemic racism in settler governments through policiesbirthing care in Western medical systems. Couchie recalls sitting on a committee designed to inhibit Indigenous culturalof stakeholders organized by the federal freedom and practices, invalidate know- Carol Couchie of Nipissing First Nationgovernment, to look at the many issues ledge and use of Indigenous medicines,works full-time as an educator for thefaced by Indigenous women, including and systemically dismantle IndigenousNational Council of Indigenous Midwivesforced and coerced sterilization, addic-peoples ability to provide for their(NCIM). From 1997 until 2015, shetion, housing, education, child appre-own children.worked as a midwife and delivered nearlyhension, and foster care. It dawned on Couchie that there wasnt one concern noted that midwifery didnt touch in some way. A lot of these mental health and What is the meaning ofsocial ills arise because children are apprehended and sent away, explains Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin? Couchie. They dont know who they are, which often happens right at birth, Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin is the[and] forced and coerced sterilization Tikinagan service model. In Ojibway/Oji- often happens right at birth.Cree, Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin means, While she acknowledges that the NCIM Everyone working together to raise ourcant fix everything, Couchie believesthat in helping people understand the children. importance of birth, continued improve-It is a system of protecting and caring forments for Indigenous women and their children and supporting families that hasfamilies are possible. We looked at birth been designed and is delivered by Firstas ceremony, as change, as the creation Nations people in our 30 communities. of parents, the creation of grandparents; we looked at it as an opportunity to teach and support our young people to be good parents, to care for newborns in a way that was appropriate, to care for TIKINAGAN.ORG those life givers, Couchie says. 40Fall/Winter 2023'