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Giving Birth Where the Family Is Giving Birth Where the Family Is
(5 days later)
INUKJUAK, Quebec — The woman’s moans of pain mingled with the intermittent beeping of the fetal heartbeat monitor. Her midwife gently coached her in their mother tongue, Inuktitut, as the morning sun cast a cool light across the floor.INUKJUAK, Quebec — The woman’s moans of pain mingled with the intermittent beeping of the fetal heartbeat monitor. Her midwife gently coached her in their mother tongue, Inuktitut, as the morning sun cast a cool light across the floor.
Finally, a baby’s wail broke through. His shrill cry was a reminder of what Inuit midwives have reclaimed — the right of pregnant women to choose to give birth in their hometown after years of being pressured to travel south to have their babies.Finally, a baby’s wail broke through. His shrill cry was a reminder of what Inuit midwives have reclaimed — the right of pregnant women to choose to give birth in their hometown after years of being pressured to travel south to have their babies.
As Canada tries to make amends for its brutal history of relations with its Indigenous population, midwives and other members of the community in Inukjuak, a town of around 1,800 people in a remote region of Quebec, point to the clinic as an example of a way forward. Today around three out of four pregnant women in the town give birth in its clinic, attended to by Inuit midwives.As Canada tries to make amends for its brutal history of relations with its Indigenous population, midwives and other members of the community in Inukjuak, a town of around 1,800 people in a remote region of Quebec, point to the clinic as an example of a way forward. Today around three out of four pregnant women in the town give birth in its clinic, attended to by Inuit midwives.
“I feel relieved to be able to give birth at home, where my family is,” said the new mother, Susie Mina.“I feel relieved to be able to give birth at home, where my family is,” said the new mother, Susie Mina.
Reconciling with Indigenous populations is one of the most pressing issues facing Canada these days. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called it a priority of his government. History curriculums have been revamped in schools; public meetings routinely begin with a recognition of the Indigenous lands they are held on; and buildings have been renamed.Reconciling with Indigenous populations is one of the most pressing issues facing Canada these days. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called it a priority of his government. History curriculums have been revamped in schools; public meetings routinely begin with a recognition of the Indigenous lands they are held on; and buildings have been renamed.
To many here, the Inukjuak clinic is a tangible example of what is possible.To many here, the Inukjuak clinic is a tangible example of what is possible.
For countless generations, the Inuit of the Nunavik region in northern Quebec lived as nomads, traveling across the wind-battered landscape to follow the herds they hunted seasonally. But in the 1950s, the Canadian government pressured families to settle in permanent communities.For countless generations, the Inuit of the Nunavik region in northern Quebec lived as nomads, traveling across the wind-battered landscape to follow the herds they hunted seasonally. But in the 1950s, the Canadian government pressured families to settle in permanent communities.
The move fit squarely into the pattern of how Canada treated its Indigenous people, including forcibly separating Indigenous children from their families and sending them often great distances to residential schools that stripped them of their language and cultural identity.The move fit squarely into the pattern of how Canada treated its Indigenous people, including forcibly separating Indigenous children from their families and sending them often great distances to residential schools that stripped them of their language and cultural identity.
In many remote Inuit areas, the government’s national health service also began pressuring pregnant women to travel hundreds of miles south to give birth in hospitals. Inukjuak women were sent to Montreal or Moose Factory, Ontario, rather than relying on the local midwives who had traditionally provided care.In many remote Inuit areas, the government’s national health service also began pressuring pregnant women to travel hundreds of miles south to give birth in hospitals. Inukjuak women were sent to Montreal or Moose Factory, Ontario, rather than relying on the local midwives who had traditionally provided care.
The stated reason for the practice, which began in the early 1970s, was to improve birth survival rates and reduce complications in far-flung communities with no hospitals and limited prenatal care.The stated reason for the practice, which began in the early 1970s, was to improve birth survival rates and reduce complications in far-flung communities with no hospitals and limited prenatal care.
But for many Indigenous women, the policy turned pregnancy into an illness, and deprived them of care by traditional methods.But for many Indigenous women, the policy turned pregnancy into an illness, and deprived them of care by traditional methods.
Many also found the experience of being sent from home isolating, and sometimes traumatizing. Because they left their communities well before their due dates, they spent weeks away from their families to give birth in unfamiliar surroundings, tended by doctors and nurses who didn’t speak their first language.Many also found the experience of being sent from home isolating, and sometimes traumatizing. Because they left their communities well before their due dates, they spent weeks away from their families to give birth in unfamiliar surroundings, tended by doctors and nurses who didn’t speak their first language.
In 1986, local elders who wanted to bring birth back to Nunavik persuaded a hospital in the region to begin a training program to certify Inuit women as midwives.In 1986, local elders who wanted to bring birth back to Nunavik persuaded a hospital in the region to begin a training program to certify Inuit women as midwives.
Eventually, three maternity clinics led by Inuit women were set up in villages on the Hudson Bay coast.Eventually, three maternity clinics led by Inuit women were set up in villages on the Hudson Bay coast.
In 1996, one of these clinics opened in Inukjuak, which is now a cluster of a few hundred homes, three stores, a post office and a few other buildings connected by gravel roads. It is nestled against the windswept shore of the bay, accessible to the outside world for much of the year only by an airport with a single runway. Everyone in Inukjuak knows everyone else.In 1996, one of these clinics opened in Inukjuak, which is now a cluster of a few hundred homes, three stores, a post office and a few other buildings connected by gravel roads. It is nestled against the windswept shore of the bay, accessible to the outside world for much of the year only by an airport with a single runway. Everyone in Inukjuak knows everyone else.
In the winter, the rocky rolling hills are buried by snow. They come alive in the summer, covered by green for a few precious weeks as the daylight stretches well into the night.In the winter, the rocky rolling hills are buried by snow. They come alive in the summer, covered by green for a few precious weeks as the daylight stretches well into the night.
“It keeps coming back,” the mayor of Inukjuak, Simeonie Nalukturuk, said of the grass, wildflowers and the berries that seem to disappear for good in the winter.“It keeps coming back,” the mayor of Inukjuak, Simeonie Nalukturuk, said of the grass, wildflowers and the berries that seem to disappear for good in the winter.
The return of giving birth in Inukjuak brought its own kind of renewal, the mayor said. Before the evacuations, newborns were celebrated and greeted by every community member. After, that tradition suddenly stopped.The return of giving birth in Inukjuak brought its own kind of renewal, the mayor said. Before the evacuations, newborns were celebrated and greeted by every community member. After, that tradition suddenly stopped.
“There was nothing to celebrate,” he said. “I think we even forgot how to celebrate the birth of our little brothers and sisters.”“There was nothing to celebrate,” he said. “I think we even forgot how to celebrate the birth of our little brothers and sisters.”
Now, to signal each new arrival, the maternity clinic flicks on the strand of Christmas lights hanging from its window frame. The names of the new babies, often ones that honor deceased relatives, are announced on the radio.Now, to signal each new arrival, the maternity clinic flicks on the strand of Christmas lights hanging from its window frame. The names of the new babies, often ones that honor deceased relatives, are announced on the radio.
Brenda Epoo, 49, a midwife at clinic, said the former practice of evacuating every woman was damaging.Brenda Epoo, 49, a midwife at clinic, said the former practice of evacuating every woman was damaging.
“Telling them every pregnancy is dangerous and sending them somewhere else — to the hospital where they don’t know their customs, their culture, their way of life — it’s not right,” she said. “It’s not a disease, it’s life.”“Telling them every pregnancy is dangerous and sending them somewhere else — to the hospital where they don’t know their customs, their culture, their way of life — it’s not right,” she said. “It’s not a disease, it’s life.”
Over the years, she has delivered hundreds of newborns. Some are the children of babies she also delivered.Over the years, she has delivered hundreds of newborns. Some are the children of babies she also delivered.
The clinic has five midwives and three student trainees, who assess and monitor the women throughout their pregnancies and after birth. The midwives are trained to provide emergency medical interventions, though performing cesarean sections and giving epidurals are outside their skill set.The clinic has five midwives and three student trainees, who assess and monitor the women throughout their pregnancies and after birth. The midwives are trained to provide emergency medical interventions, though performing cesarean sections and giving epidurals are outside their skill set.
Only expectant mothers deemed high risk are transferred south, with their consent, to a hospital.Only expectant mothers deemed high risk are transferred south, with their consent, to a hospital.
Across Nunavik, almost 200 babies are delivered by midwives each year, about 40 to 50 a year in Inukjuak alone.Across Nunavik, almost 200 babies are delivered by midwives each year, about 40 to 50 a year in Inukjuak alone.
During the years of the evacuation policy, the mortality rate during and directly after birth was high for the babies of women in the Nunavik region, in part because of the limited prenatal services.During the years of the evacuation policy, the mortality rate during and directly after birth was high for the babies of women in the Nunavik region, in part because of the limited prenatal services.
According to a study from McGill University, during the final years of the policy, the mortality rate was three times higher than it was for the same time period in Montreal.According to a study from McGill University, during the final years of the policy, the mortality rate was three times higher than it was for the same time period in Montreal.
Since the midwifery program began, that rate has dropped significantly. The latest figures from 2000-15, show that the combined fetal and neonatal mortality rate in the Nunavik villages was 7.7 per 1,000 births compared with 5.8 for Canada in total. Since the midwifery program began, that rate has dropped significantly. The latest figures from 2000-15 show that the combined fetal and neonatal mortality rate in the Nunavik villages was 7.7 per 1,000 births compared with 5.8 for Canada in total.
But it’s not all about numbers.But it’s not all about numbers.
Most of the 13,000 people who live in Nunavik speak Inuktitut as their first language. Now, it’s also the first language their newborns will hear.Most of the 13,000 people who live in Nunavik speak Inuktitut as their first language. Now, it’s also the first language their newborns will hear.
Susie Mina, the new mother, gave birth to her first son in Montreal because her pregnancy was deemed high risk. Her later pregnancies, attended by the midwives in Inukjuak, were very different.Susie Mina, the new mother, gave birth to her first son in Montreal because her pregnancy was deemed high risk. Her later pregnancies, attended by the midwives in Inukjuak, were very different.
“I felt more comfortable giving birth here because I didn’t have to speak English,” she said.“I felt more comfortable giving birth here because I didn’t have to speak English,” she said.
Her midwives, she said, also understood how she felt without her having to utter a word because of their shared cultural touchstones. The simple raise of an eyebrow or the wrinkle of a nose could take the place of words.Her midwives, she said, also understood how she felt without her having to utter a word because of their shared cultural touchstones. The simple raise of an eyebrow or the wrinkle of a nose could take the place of words.
After she gave birth, Ms. Mina handed the baby to her mother, Lilly, who delivered all of her own children, including Susie, in the south. “I am so grateful that they can be born here,” said Lilly Mina. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clutched her new grandson to her chest.After she gave birth, Ms. Mina handed the baby to her mother, Lilly, who delivered all of her own children, including Susie, in the south. “I am so grateful that they can be born here,” said Lilly Mina. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clutched her new grandson to her chest.
When Megan Epoo, the niece of the midwife Brenda Epoo, became pregnant, her aunt served as her midwife, and, along with other women in her family, guided her through her pregnancy.When Megan Epoo, the niece of the midwife Brenda Epoo, became pregnant, her aunt served as her midwife, and, along with other women in her family, guided her through her pregnancy.
Her daughter, Hailey, is now 9. On a recent day, she and a friend skipped rocks in tide pools outside a canvas tent on the land the family has camped on for generations.Her daughter, Hailey, is now 9. On a recent day, she and a friend skipped rocks in tide pools outside a canvas tent on the land the family has camped on for generations.
First-time mothers here are often young, Megan Epoo said, and having their own mothers, aunts and sisters there for their labor is vital.First-time mothers here are often young, Megan Epoo said, and having their own mothers, aunts and sisters there for their labor is vital.
“She knows what I’ve been through, she knows my entire life,” Ms. Epoo said of her aunt. “Her advice has meaning to me.”“She knows what I’ve been through, she knows my entire life,” Ms. Epoo said of her aunt. “Her advice has meaning to me.”
Ms. Epoo said being able to give birth in Nunavik was particularly significant to her because the policy of pressuring women to travel south to have their babies was part of the overall history of the treatment of Indigenous groups, which has brought generational trauma to the community.Ms. Epoo said being able to give birth in Nunavik was particularly significant to her because the policy of pressuring women to travel south to have their babies was part of the overall history of the treatment of Indigenous groups, which has brought generational trauma to the community.
Levels of alcohol abuse, domestic violence and death by accident are higher here than the national average. The life expectancy in Nunavik is far below the rest of Quebec and the suicide rate is troublingly high.Levels of alcohol abuse, domestic violence and death by accident are higher here than the national average. The life expectancy in Nunavik is far below the rest of Quebec and the suicide rate is troublingly high.
“I hurt when I think about it too much,” Ms. Epoo said. But, she added, “Having the privilege to give birth here, is like beating the system.” “I hurt when I think about it too much,” Ms. Epoo said. But, she added, “Having the privilege to give birth here is like beating the system.”