Funding outcome

In the past, Indigenous families across the Arctic-including in Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and Northern Europe-welcomed babies through community-led practices grounded in traditional knowledge, midwifery, and care on the land. These ways supported healthy births and strong families. Colonial policies have disrupted these systems, and today many Indigenous women are flown far from home to give birth, often without family or cultural support. This can be stressful and lead to worse health outcomes for mothers and babies. This project is a review of what is already known about Indigenous practices related to pregnancy and giving birth across the Arctic. The goal is to gather and compare information from different regions in the Arctic to learn what is working, what challenges exist, and how Indigenous-led care can be better supported. The research is being guided by a team of Inuit advisors throughout -including an Elder, a midwife, and a doula-who bring important lived experience and cultural knowledge. In addition to developing the project with the advisory committee and engaging in analysis together, the team will also work with the advisory group to share the findings in ways that are useful and relevant to Inuit community members. This includes making materials for northern health organizations, Indigenous governments, birthworkers, and decision-makers. The results will help plan a future project focused on improving birth care in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, where many women are still sent away to give birth.