Two new Indigenous-led birthing programs provide new mothers with vital cultural supports

“Over the years, with all the trauma that we’ve experienced, that has stripped away a lot of our child rearing, our teaching, our roles and responsibilities as family and community. Our Elders wanted to bring that back,” said Longjohn.

The new facility was designed to meet every essential need, said Lohnjohn, including four birthing pods, a multipurpose room, a ceremonial room, educational room, and a kitchen. It also has a wrap-around deck – a safe space where mothers and children can move and exercise when needed.

Support isn’t limited to just birth, as new mothers will have have access to post-partum supports, educational classes, and an environment designed to nurture mothers on their childrearing journey.

“It’s important that babies hear the language first, hear the song and drum, through smudges and medicine that it give them that identity of who they are,” said Longjohn. “We want to acknowledge every child in a good way.”

At Sacred Beginnings in Regina began accepting clients at the beginning of May, and is now supporting five women. The program is led by certified doula Sierra Tupone from Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation, who incorporates traditional healing practices and cultural milestones into the care she provides.

“We were finding that there’s not a lot of traditional or cultural teaching in the urban environment, and sometimes women don’t know how to advocate for themselves in a hospital setting.” said Teresa Innis, executive director of the Nēwo-Yōtina Friendship Centre.

“We want to connect and provide women with those services. It’s always important to give a sense of belonging – it builds community and helps folks feel like they’re not alone.”

Sacred Beginnings will provide mothers with care from pre-natal through the first year of motherhood. Innis said the program will incorporate cedar baths for mother and baby, medicine picking, placenta ceremonies, sweats, and programs like traditional language education, housing support workers, and family preservation.

“The goal is to create healthy babies and healthy families. Families that stay together,” said Innis.

While Sacred Beginnings doesn’t currently accommodate births in their facility, Innis said they are providing supports to help new mothers navigate the often complicated process of navigating the healthcare system and talking to doctors.

“We are already a trusted organization in the city. I think clients feel comfortable coming to us. They might’ve already faced racism in the healthcare system, or not gotten the care they were expecting when going to a doctor,” said Innis.

“We’re looking at cultural safety, emotional safety, and supporting the overall mental, emotional, and spiritual side of things.”

Part of that plan involves fostering healthy relationships between the new mothers themselves who are on the same path and connect in solidarity with one another, said Innis.

After only a month with their first group of five women, which includes two teenage mothers, Innis said the response has been very positive. Mothers feel as though their in a place trust and belonging, she said.

“It’s been exciting. Working with families, creating healthy babies and healthy families, having families come to us when they’re in need, and having those connections rooted in culture is going to be a beautiful thing,” said Innis.