The Rise of Indigenous Doulas
Jenna Kunze and Jessica Lázaro Moss wrote this article for “Native News Online” about the developing network of indigenous doulas in Washington state. They highlight the doula work of Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services.
Racial discrimination in the American medical system can be deadly for Indigenous people. The situation is most dire in the state of Washington, where Native women are eight and a half times more likely to die during pregnancy or within the year. More than 80% of these deaths were preventable.
In the face of inequality, Indigenous birthkeepers provide culturally competent care for birthing parents and their children. They employ the Indigenous knowledge and experience that they learned from their mothers and aunties.
Doula-assisted mothers have healthier pregnancies, and culturally competent doulas help alleviate stress. Doulas can assist in creating birth plans and in advocating for the birthing person during labor. Legislators have recognized the positive effect that doulas can have on birth outcomes. In Washington, Indigenous advocates helped pass a bill to get doula care covered by Medicaid.
Doulas can also play a significant role postpartum. Even when all goes well, birth can be a traumatic life event. In Washington, Native mothers are more likely to die by suicide and overdose postpartum. Hummingbird doulas work towards intergenerational healing and care for the mental health of Native birthing people.
Camie Goldhammer, the founder of Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services, notes that doula work is a part of reproductive justice. Doulas help birthing people raise their babies in safe and supportive environments. Hummingbird calls for a guaranteed basic income program that will provide $1,250 a month payments until the child’s third birthday for up to 150 Native families.
I see a lot of this work is things that I would do for my family. It's all things that we intuitively did in our culture... So it feels very natural and loving to be able to be a support [in] reclaiming birth practices, parenting practices, and community.
SOURCE: The Pulitzer Center • AUTHOR: Jenna Kunze and Jessica Lázaro Moss • LAST UPDATED: September 22, 2023
