Indigenous Communities
Many Indigenous women in Peru, Mexico and Canada must travel far from home, often alone, to give birth in a hospital leading to stress and isolation.
North American Indigenous midwives share best practices PWRDF has been nurturing a partnership of Indigenous midwives from Canada, Peru and Mexico over the past three years and supporting them as they exchange best practices and advocate for Indigenous women’s rights for a cultural birth. In many Indigenous communities, women must travel far from home, often alone, to give birth in a hospital. The stress and isolation can cause an increase in maternal or infant mortality. In April 2019 close to 100 Indigenous midwives gathered in Peru for the First International Gathering of Indigenous Midwives of the Americas. They met again in August in Mexico. Both gatherings were grounded on Indigenous values such as respect, love and participation. Midwives discussed the challenges of Indigenous midwifery and how to ensure the practice can continue in the three countries. Sessions focused on pregnancy, childbirth and the use of medicinal plants in this ancestral practice.
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