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Canada Day: Centering Indigenous Sovereignty in Birthwork

Canada Day is often celebrated with fireworks and barbecues, but for many, it’s also a day of grief. A reminder of land theft, cultural erasure, and the deep wounds of colonization. This Canada Day, let’s take the time to reflect on the foundations of our work: whose traditions we draw from, whose knowledge we uplift, and whose sovereignty we respect or overlook. 

The truth is, much of what birth workers do today – holding space, honouring ceremony, and recognizing the sacredness of birth – are practices rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems. Systems that have existed on these lands since time immemorial and continue to thrive in communities that protect and reclaim them from policies of forced removal, assimilation, and systemic erasure.

When we offer continuous labour support, affirm the role of extended kin, or talk about birth as a spiritual experience, we are participating in something that has always existed here. It is not new. It is not neutral. And it did not come from textbooks.

This Canada Day, we invite birthworkers to do more than reflect. We invite you to act.

Ask yourself:

• How has colonialism shaped the way I learned to support birth?
• Have I named and honoured the Indigenous roots of the practices I use?
• Am I unintentionally upholding systems that exclude Indigenous knowledge?
• Do I know the difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation?

Take concrete action(s):

• Learn the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples living in Canada. 
  • Indigenous Canada – free course offered by the University of Alberta
• Update your referral lists and partnerships to include Indigenous doulas and midwives. If you don’t know any, ask yourself why. 
  • Aunties On The Road 
• Read Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, all 94 calls. Find one that connects to your work and commit to it. 
  • #22 & 92(i) are good places to start
• Follow Indigenous birthkeepers, elders, and educators, as well as platforms that share news and advocacy. Amplify their voices by resharing their work.
  • National Council of Indigenous Midwives
  • The Cree Birth Project

Canada Day doesn’t have to mean ignoring the past. We can’t rewrite history, but we can decide how we show up in the present.

Indigenous birth practices are not lost. They’re here. They’re vibrant. And they’re leading.

The question is — are we listening?[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1750883699682{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

About the Author: Aunjrya Fleming

Aunjrya is the EDI lead for Doula School. She is a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with a deep commitment to reproductive justice. She brings years of experience working with racialized, refugee, and 2SLGBTQIA+ families as a maternal health navigator, educator, and advocate. Aunjrya is passionate about building equity-informed spaces that center safety, dignity, and agency for all birthing people.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Not the U.S. — But Not Off the Hook: Showing Up for Queer and Refugee Families in Canada

Doula Support for Queer and Refugee Families: As we watch what’s unfolding in the United States — Anti-Queer policies gaining momentum, Pride events under threat, and migrant families facing raids and deportation — it can be tempting for Canadians to breathe a sigh of relief.

But let’s not get comfortable.

The truth is, Queer and Refugee communities here in Canada are still navigating systems that weren’t built for them. And while our headlines may be quieter, the harm can still run deep — especially when it’s met with silence.

This Pride Month, we want to gently but clearly remind birthworkers across Canada: our work is political, too.

Being a Doula in Canada Means Facing Our Realities

Queer and trans families here still struggle to access gender-affirming care. Many refugee families — including queer refugees — face unsafe shelter conditions, long wait times for services, and a lack of culturally or linguistically appropriate care.

Hate might not be in the policy — but it’s still in the room.

Your clients may not be facing deportation, but they might still be facing systemic discrimination, generational trauma, or invisible stressors tied to what’s happening globally. The collective weight of fear, anger, and grief doesn’t stop at the border.

So how do we show up here, now?

1. Don’t Compare — Commit

Instead of using the U.S. as a measuring stick, use it as a mirror. What does our silence mirror? What would we do differently if our systems were next? The truth is, many of the same skills, resources, and sensitivities being called for elsewhere are just as needed here — even if our government isn’t making headlines.

2. Make Your Care Explicitly Safe

Don’t assume people feel safe with you — show them. Ask about safety and identity like it’s as normal as asking about birth plans. Make space for chosen family. Update your forms. Know your own biases. Be proactive, not performative.

3. Recognize Intersectional Risks

A birthing person who identifies as a queer refugee can face layered vulnerabilities — racism, homophobia, housing insecurity, the arduous task of navigating a complex and novel healthcare system. Know who your local mutual aid groups are. Understand how refugee sheltering systems work. Connect with organizations supporting queer newcomers and undocumented folks. The more context you hold, the more safety you can create.

4. Offer Local and Cross-Border Solidarity

This moment isn’t just about who’s on your client list. It’s about standing with queer and undocumented communities everywhere. That might mean checking in on doulas, friends, or clients across the border. It might mean amplifying fundraisers or calling your MP. Oppression is global — and so is our responsibility.

A Canadian Flag Doesn’t Equal Safety — But Your Practice Can

This Pride, let’s hold two truths: we are not the U.S., and we are not absolved. Queer and refugee families in Canada still need more than signs promising a positive space. They need doulas who show up, speak up, and do the ongoing work of creating safety from intake to postpartum and beyond.

Let’s commit to being those doulas.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1750689390681{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

About the Author: Aunjrya Fleming

Aunjrya is the EDI lead for Doula School. She is a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with a deep commitment to reproductive justice. She brings years of experience working with racialized, refugee, and 2SLGBTQIA+ families as a maternal health navigator, educator, and advocate. Aunjrya is passionate about building equity-informed spaces that center safety, dignity, and agency for all birthing people.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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The Art of Reassurance: Addressing Birth-Related Fears for Mental Health Stability

There’s no question about it — parenting is one of the most exciting milestones you can hit as an adult. However, that doesn’t mean becoming a parent is stress-free — especially as a person giving birth. Pregnancy can be a difficult time filled with mixed emotions, and these ramp up as the due date approaches. Having birth-related fears is perfectly normal, of course — especially with the abundance of information all of us have about childbirth today. Knowing every little thing that can go wrong is bound to generate stress. Luckily, addressing birth-related fears is easier with the right doula — and you’ll be by their side to help. With proper planning and support from you and their loved ones, clients will easily find light in the darkness and get the right mindset for the moment they go into labor. 

So, let’s examine some of the ways you can reassure your clients to achieve mental stability before labor. 

Support Is Essential

To get your clients ready for childbirth, help them realize that they can’t prepare perfectly. Even with the most thoughtful approach and a caring doula, they can’t plan for every eventual situation that might arise. With that in mind, it is essential to learn to let go of at least some of the control they want to have over the birth of their little bundle of joy. 

However, this also means learning to lean on you as their doula, their partner, and other loved ones. Together, you will provide the practical support they need as they get ready for the big day. Knowing they’ve got the right people beside them will make the whole experience less stressful. 

For instance, you and the client’s partner can write a birth plan for the moment the baby arrives. In the process, you can explain anything they’re uncertain about and discuss your advice for each decision they need to make. 

Still, addressing birth-related fears requires more than practical support. Now, more than ever, your client needs a partner who cares about their emotional well-being during pregnancy. However, the birth-related fears don’t end when the baby is born. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on postpartum mental health, as the emotional changes after birth can be just as challenging as the physical ones. A well-planned postpartum care plan is as important as a pre-natal one.  

Address All Stressors

Expecting a baby is bound to be stressful for your client. After all, they’re bringing new life into this world — feeling completely relaxed about the fact would actually be strange. However, that doesn’t mean they should completely let their stressors take over and cause anxiety each day. And that’s something you should make clear as a doula. 

Without addressing birth-related fears and lowering stress, your client actually runs the risk of negatively impacting their baby’s development. That’s why stress management is absolutely necessary while pregnant. 

How do you help the client achieve this? Well, this depends on their specific stressors. There are some things common for all pregnancies, but some sources of discomfort will depend on the client’s particular experience. Guide them through this process and help them recognize their sources of stress.

For instance — are they getting enough sleep? With a chronic lack of sleep, the client’s daily stress can build to a point where it affects the baby. Also, you probably know that eating healthily is crucial for the baby — but it’s also important for the client’s daily mood. 

Eating fast food and lots of sugar will result in constant energy crashes and mood swings. And it will make dealing with birth-related fears more difficult. Your clients should eat as healthily as possible instead. 

Identify Specific Triggers

Sure, a lack of sleep and malnutrition will make anyone’s emotional and mental stability more difficult to balance. However, all of us have some specific stress triggers as well. To help your client maintain mental health in the months and weeks leading up to childbirth, you need to identify their particular stressors. 

Encourage them to discuss this with their partner/family and see if there’s anything they can do to make daily life less anxious. Getting enough birth and postpartum support from partners/familial support is essential, even with the best doula in the world. 

Also, it helps them think of things that they find relaxing and see if there are any hobbies they can take up to alleviate stress. Some folks find pottery and baking relaxing — for others, it’s simply spending time outside or watching a movie. 

Ultimately, your clients may need medical help as well to manage stress. Encourage the client to speak to their doctor to see if there’s anything they could help with — or provide useful advice. 

Get Enough Exercise

Most pregnant people have posture problems during pregnancy. This is no surprise, considering the sudden increase in weight they carry around every single day. And this becomes an increasing problem as they near their term. Slowly, this becomes a psychological problem as well — pregnant people need to deal with the fact that they’re not as mobile as usual. 

Exercise can help with this — and it can also help them when it comes to addressing birth-related fears. During labor, your client will be using muscles you may not have worked out before — and you should make them aware of this. To ensure labor is as smooth as possible, guide them to strengthen these muscles and potentially reduce pain and aching after the baby arrives.

Of course, safety is essential here — both for your client and the baby. Consult a medical professional before recommending any workout plans for your pregnant client, and ask them to get advice from their doctors, too. In most cases, light yoga can help. You can find plenty of specific plans for pregnancy online. 

Pregnancy-specific squats may also help by working out pelvic muscles, and you can find other exercises to help with lower back pain. As the client’s pregnancy progresses, their lower back will become increasingly stiff — so this is important as well. 

Wrapping Up

Addressing birth-related fears is a vital part of preparing for labor. It’s perfectly normal to feel anxious or afraid — a client knows they’ll have to prepare their body for some degree of pain. However, even without drugs (about which they should always consult their doctor), there are ways to prepare them for the process. And this is a big part of your job as a doula.

At the end of the day, the best way to prepare is to arm them with knowledge. The more they know about every detail of childbirth, the more they’ll be able to avoid mistakes and unnecessary unpleasantness. Plus, they’ll be ready to deal with any potential issues that might arise. 

Naturally, healthy living during pregnancy will go a long way toward alleviating stress. When your client knows they’ve done everything in their power to achieve a healthy pregnancy — they and you have a lot less to fear. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1760583857451{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

About the Author: Andrea Paul, Doula Trainer and Mentor

Andrea Paul (she/her) is a devoted caregiver and mother of two who brings warmth, compassion, and enthusiasm to supporting doulas and families. With over a decade of experience as a birth worker, postpartum doula, lactation educator, and infant sleep coach, she’s passionate about helping families feel confident and cared for. As a doula trainer and mentor, Andrea finds joy in empowering new doulas to thrive and make a lasting impact in their communities.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1739977217866{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Birth Workers Anti-Racism: Supporting Black Lives: Black History Month, or Black Futures Month as I prefer, hits differently this year. It’s a scary time for Black people in North America. A president that most Black American voters did not choose has taken control of the White House. Trump’s second term is a manifestation of a sociopolitical climate wherein some will openly say that all Black people in professional jobs are unqualified DEI hires who should be relegated to “Black jobs.” These people are gleefully expecting some “Black jobs” to open up as all the migrant fruit pickers get deported. 

At the same time, the president won’t stop talking about annexing Canada. The party leading in the polls for our federal election this year embraces similar ideologies as the MAGA movement, creating fear and anxiety for Black Canadians who don’t want to see the same sociopolitical climate ushered in here.

Since 2019, significant progress has been made in the US to secure public funding for doula care, with programs often targeting Black and other racialized groups. This is in response to numerous studies demonstrating that there is a Black maternal health crisis in the US. Black women are 3 times more likely to die in childbirth than white women. We are also more likely to die from postpartum complications, more likely to have preterm labour, and a variety of other adverse outcomes. Similarly, Black neonates are more likely to die, experience birth injury, and have low birth weight. Researchers have agreed that social determinants of health such as medical racism, and racial trauma and stress are to blame. 

Research also demonstrates that birth and postpartum doula care is an effective and cost-effective intervention that improves outcomes for Black birthers and babies. Black Congresswomen Alma Adams and Lauren Underwood, who co-founded the Black Maternal Health Caucus in 2019, have been significant contributors to systemic progress. This bipartisan caucus works to address the disparities in maternal health outcomes for Black women in the United States through legislation and advocacy. 

Now these gains are at risk. The first month of the Trump administration sets a very different tone regarding what we can expect in terms of support for public health and health equity. In the first week, he withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), the body responsible for coordinating international responses to global public health crises such as the pandemic. He also signed an executive order directing federally run insurance programs to exclude coverage for gender-affirming care for trans people (ie Medicaid, Tricare, etc) and public funding for abortions. 

This administration is also making decisive moves against teaching Black history. For example, content regarding the Tuskeegee airmen has been removed from Air Force training. Seeing which way the wind is blowing, Google rushed to comply with this new direction by canceling its DEI programs and removing Black History Month, Indigenous People’s Month, and Pride Month from its calendar. Other companies have made similar moves. In a climate like this, support for Black maternal and neonatal health initiatives is in jeopardy, while the Black perinatal health crisis persists. 

Given the power of the United States, and Trump’s threats against the sovereignty and independence of various nations, including Canada, Gaza, Mexico, Panama, and Denmark, global anxiety is high. Many people in the US and around the world don’t like the direction in which things are headed and recognize that resistance is needed. As doulas and birth workers, we are already engaged in a path of resistance to medicalized and systemic violence against gendered, racialized, queer, disabled, and equity-deserving bodies. 

The intention of the “shock and awe” executive orders of last month is to demoralize the average person and make us feel like there’s nothing we can do. This is far from true. Fascist regimes are always met with sustained resistance, and they always crumble sooner or later. Our mission is to ensure that this happens sooner rather than later and mitigate the suffering caused in the meantime. Here are some practical strategies and tips on surviving and thriving in the resistance movement in the coming years.

Self-Care

All of these dramatic and alarming changes happening overnight and the uncertainty about what will happen next takes a toll on our mental health and well-being. That’s the point. Mentally ill people just trying to survive each day cannot resist effectively. Taking care of ourselves is one of the most important steps we can take to weather the coming storms. Brainstorm activities that make you feel better and try to do at least one thing on that list each day. Monitor yourself for symptoms of clinical mental illness and seek treatment as soon as you think you might be unwell. Support Black scholars and writers by checking out Tricia Hersey’s Nap Ministry movement and her books Rest as Resistance: A Manifesto, and We Will Rest. The Nap Ministry advocates for liberating ourselves from the expectation to be constantly working, and building communities of collective rest and healing through art and grassroots organizing. 

Understand Intersectionality

It’s telling that the Trump regime is attacking Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, and low-income people. It’s consistent with the theory of intersectionality first advanced by Black feminist legal scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw. Oppression is not siloed. Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, ableism, and other discriminatory mindsets work together as a well-oiled machine. Marginalized groups and allies must also work together. You are probably familiar with the post-WWII poem, “First They Came” by Rev. Martin Niemöller. Do not wait for them to come for you personally. There is a very good chance they will come for you eventually. Stand in solidarity with people who are under attack right now. Inform yourself about how marginalized groups have already been negatively impacted by Trump’s executive orders and speak up. If you are Doula School alum and want to learn more about the Black perinatal health crisis in Canada and discuss its similarities to the treatment of Black birthers in other jurisdictions, check out the watch party to screen “The Standard of Care” on Mar 11, 2025. 

Globalize Your Social Network

Globally, those who are against the current direction far outnumber those who support it. We need to find each other and grow an international solidarity movement. One important lesson of these troubling times is that no country is an Island. Many people worldwide are impacted by the actions of a government that is not theirs. Find out what like-minded people in other countries are doing and figure out how you can work together. For Doula School alumni, our private Facebook group is a great place to start. As our program grows, the group is increasingly international. It’s a good way to talk to other birth workers about how it’s going where they live, their hopes and fears for the future, and what we have in common. The goal of a regime like this is to lock us in an “us vs them” mentality that fuels hate and fear and makes us easier to manipulate. Finding common ground and building solidarity with diverse communities is an essential act of resistance.

Consumer Harm-Reduction

Pay attention to how you vote with your money. As we all know by now, the opening volley of the US regime’s efforts to control the world is to initiate a trade war with numerous countries, including Canada, Mexico, and China. Check the labels on the products you buy and support your local economy whenever possible. The stronger each nation’s economy is, the less power the trade war and tariff threats hold. The people in power are highly motivated by money. This is the language they understand. If you live in the US, do some research and support companies that are defiantly maintaining their EDI initiatives and divest from brands that are complicit in these regressive policies.

Votes Matter

Are there elections coming up soon where you live? Pay attention to elections at each level of government, inform yourself about the different policy platforms and how they will affect you and your community, and VOTE on election day. Over a third of eligible US voters didn’t show up on November 6, 2024. We’ll never know what would have happened if they had. A key takeaway from the current chaos is that election outcomes have a significant impact on the daily lives of average people. We must exercise our democratic rights along with these other crucial actions. For those in Ontario, Canada, this means being ready to vote for a Premier on Feb 27, 2025. Ensure that you are registered, or have the documentation you need to register on election day handy. To register on election day, you need proof of address to confirm you are voting in the right riding (e.g. a utility bill) and a provincially recognized ID (e.g. a Canadian passport).

Join Grassroots Movements

Make an effort to learn about organized resistance that is already happening in your community and join their efforts. Share information with your friends and social networks about reputable organizations doing good work. Follow resistance organizations on social media and support their actions wherever possible. This can include going to demonstrations, calling and writing your elected representatives, volunteering, signing official petitions, and more. Don’t underestimate the power of grassroots movements. Regular people working together have been instrumental in bringing down every corrupt and oppressive regime throughout history. The people united will never be defeated. 

About the Author – Keira Grant  

Keira Grant (she/her) Inclusion and Engagement Lead – Racialized Communities

Keira brings a wealth of experience to the Online Community Moderator role. She is a Queer, Black woman with a twenty-year track record in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) education, projects, and community building initiatives.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]