takohpinawasowin: Indigenous Elders’ Stories of Traditional Birthing and Child-Rearing Practices

The takohpinawasowin: Indigenous Elders’ Stories of Traditional Birthing and Child-Rearing Practices study began in Spring 2021. The FNUniv Research Team gathered stories of Elders’ teachings on traditional maternal and obstetrical care, exploring them through Indigenous research methods that privilege both traditional teachings and collaborative community research processes, such as sharing circles, storytelling, symbol-based reflection, observation, and experiential learning. This study employed an Indigenous research framework and qualitative inquiry to provide a better understanding of how collaborative Indigenous-led research methods can be developed, supported and implemented through community leadership and capacity building. As the intent is to recover traditional knowledge(s) of birthing and parenting, narratives of traditional birthing experiences and lessons can be used to further develop frameworks and resources to teach, inform, and disseminate Indigenous knowledge to community members and to other social and health agencies that work with First Nations communities.

To date, the FNUniv research team has explored how Indigenous women’s meaning and experiences of birthing have revived the call for more place-based and traditional birthing practices and knowledge. With direction from Indigenous Journalism and Communication Arts at FNUniv, the research team has produced five podcasts, a video, and a summary report on these experiences. Further, this study supports the creation and development of educational booklets specific to traditional birthing practices and customs that are part of the community’s historical practices.

takohpinawasowin means ‘wrapping around to support each other where life-giving and child-
rearing is a community responsibility and wholistic activity.’

Video Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XEyysz6J8ilYV5lrc__Go5F9e8DPH_Nx/view?usp=drivesdk

Submitted by: Dr. Brenda Green, Professor Emeritus, Indigenous Health