Thank you, Chair, and thank you to all the witnesses today for providing us with some wonderful insights about midwifery, especially in northern Ontario.
I wonder if you could speak to midwifery and how it relates to indigenous communities. Access to health care services may be challenging for many indigenous communities, which may force indigenous people to seek this care outside their communities. They have reported experiences of racism and violence while seeking health care, including sexual and reproductive health care outside their communities.
According to the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives, “Indigenous Midwifery care is a pathway that supports the regeneration of strong Indigenous families by bringing birth closer to home.”
Could you describe the role that indigenous midwifery plays in the health and well-being of indigenous peoples and communities?
That question is for anyone.