Papers by Erika Finestone
Indigenous Birth in Canada: Reconciliation and Reproductive Justice in the Settler State, 2017
This chapter begins by giving a brief history of some of the key challenges to Indigenous pregnan... more This chapter begins by giving a brief history of some of the key challenges to Indigenous pregnancy and birth in the settler colonial context in the lands commonly known as “Canada.” We then move on to some of the contemporary challenges faced by Indigenous communities when it comes to maintaining Indigenous birth practices in settler colonies. Specifically, we highlight some of the work being brought to life by Indigenous scholars and community advocates, many of whom are investing their time and energy into advancing Indigenous reproductive justice in Canada. This chapter aims to interrogate the layers of meaning, conflict, and opportunity associated with the joining of the terms “Indigenous” and “birth” into ideology and praxis. We will ask the following: what makes Indigenous birthing practices distinct from other birth methods? How does Indigenous birth stand alone as a decolonial project, and how does it become part of the broader politics of pregnancy, birth, motherhood, and childrearing in settler states?
Uploads
Papers by Erika Finestone