On this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we focus on a theme that is foundational to the survival, cultural continuity, and self-determination of Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous Midwifery.
For Indigenous Peoples, traditional midwives, healers, and medicine women are far more than healthcare providers; they are the primary knowledge holders and transmitters of language, culture, and identity. Their roles are central to the governance systems of Indigenous Peoples and the protection of reproductive health.
However, these vital institutions have been systematically targeted through processes of colonization and nation-building. Historically, the maternal health practices of Indigenous Peoples were frequently criminalized or dismissed as primitive, leading to the erosion of traditional knowledge and community-centered care. This dismantling of traditional institutions has had profound intergenerational impacts on the demographic continuity and well-being of Indigenous Peoples.
The legacy of these historical injustices remains visible today in the form of structural discrimination within modern healthcare systems. Indigenous women and girls routinely face racism, dismissal of their pain, and denial of culturally appropriate care, resulting in disproportionately high maternal mortality rates and reduced access to essential services. Furthermore, environmental contamination from extractive industries and illegal mining continues to threaten the reproductive health and bodily autonomy of Indigenous Peoples.
Despite these challenges, we are seeing a powerful movement to reclaim these rights. From the “Birthing on Country” model in Australia to Māori midwifery collectives in New Zealand and intercultural health models in Ecuador and Bolivia, Indigenous Peoples are demonstrating that integrating traditional knowledge into maternity care improves health outcomes and restores leadership.
On September 23rd, I will present a comprehensive report to the Human Rights Council detailing these patterns of violations and the urgent need for redress.
I call upon all States to:
– Acknowledge the historical and ongoing violations of the reproductive rights of Indigenous Peoples.
– Institutionalize intercultural health systems that recognize and support the traditional midwives and healers of Indigenous Peoples.
– Ensure that all health and environmental policies are developed with the full participation and free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples.
Upholding the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls is essential to the collective survival and futures of Indigenous Peoples.
