Kinship, Consent, and Clinical Care: Decolonizing Health Systems

Midwifery isn’t neutral—care can be colonial. What does it mean to “decolonize health care”? In this impactful and thought-provoking episode, Laverne Gervais and Candace Neumann challenge conventional models of care and invite us to reimagine wellness through kinship, cultural safety, and HIV doula care. They share how Indigenous-led programs are transforming reproductive health with heart, humour, and healing—and what midwives and other health professionals can do to support that shift. Discover how to provide care rooted in kinship, not control.

Laverne Gervais

Laverne was born and lives in Treaty 1 Territory, in the city of Winnipeg. She is a member of Peguis First Nation. Laverne has been working in Indigenous sexual wellness for over 15 years and strives to increase Indigenous led culturally safer care programming, prevention and treatment for STBBIs. She has coordinated programs for women living with HIV, facilitated sexuality education workshops for a wide age range and currently manages the Ka Ni Kanichihk’s Mino Pimatisiwin Sexual Wellness Lodge.

Candace Neumann

Candace is a Métis full-spectrum doula, community worker, and facilitator based in Treaty 1 Territory. She is co-founder of Zaagi’idiwin: Indigenous Full-Spectrum Doula Training and researcher for the Indigenous HIV Doula program at Ka Ni Kanichihk. A sundancer and cedar bath practitioner, Candace integrates traditional knowledge with contemporary care to support Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people. She is currently completing her Master of Social Work in Indigenous Knowledges at the University of Manitoba.

__

We welcome feedback at CAMpodcast@canadianmidwives.org

Strength in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode, Strength in Practice explores the experiences of nonbinary and trans clients and midwives navigating pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.

Host Monika Goodluck speaks with Liam Kali, a queer, nonbinary, transmasculine midwife and author of Queer Conception, who shares decades of experience in inclusive fertility care. Liam offers both practical advice and a critical look at the barriers within midwifery institutions that continue to exclude queer and trans voices.

The episode also features parents Jenna Jacobs and Eby Heller, who took the Quebec government to court to affirm their identities on their children’s birth certificates. They reflect on midwifery care, gender-affirming lactation, rural realities, and the essential role of community support.

The episode concludes with a poetic and deeply reflective personal essay by midwife Jenna Bly, exploring gender, embodiment, and the ethics of care. A must-listen for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of gender-inclusive midwifery.

__

We welcome feedback at CAMpodcast@canadianmidwives.org

Strength in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us as we explore The Colour of Birth project with Dr. Karline Wilson-Mitchell, a leading advocate for Black midwives in Canada.

Through rich historical research and personal narratives, she shares the hidden stories of Black midwives who helped shape Canadian healthcare—from those who arrived via the Underground Railroad to those who faced systemic barriers in the 20th century. Dr. Wilson-Mitchell also discusses the challenges Black midwives face today, from barriers to entering the profession to the emotional labour of mentorship. How do we ensure the next generation of midwives are supported? What role does advocacy play in addressing racial disparities in maternal care? Explore and celebrate the resilience, activism, and lasting impact of Black midwifery.

About Our Guest

Karline Wilson-Mitchell, who hails from Jamaica, is the first and only Black Canadian midwifery education professor. She was the director of the TMU, Midwifery department. between 2018-2024. She is passionate about reproductive justice that informs midwifery education, healthcare practice and global partnerships. She has been a registered nurse since 1984, and a midwife since 1992. She has worked as midwife in urban and rural settings in the U.S. and Canada. She’s acted as a consultant for leadership and curriculum development in education in Jamaica, Tanzania, Zambia, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan. Her new course, Black Birthing & Health Equity, launched in January 2024. It examines African diasporic traditions around family, perinatal care, and challenges learners to develop creative ways of conceiving and recreating healthy birth environments for Black families.

__

We welcome feedback at CAMpodcast@canadianmidwives.org

Strength in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show Description:

In this powerful and impactful episode, host Monika Goodluck is joined by Senator Yvonne Boyer and Métis midwife Nathalie Pambrun to address one of Canada’s most harrowing healthcare injustices: the coerced and forced sterilization of women—a practice that disproportionately affects Indigenous women and their communities' ability to survive.

Together, they delve into the fight for justice through Bill S250, the efforts of survivors and allies to criminalize forced sterilization, and the vital role both Indigenous and non-Indigenous midwives can play in safeguarding the safety and dignity of their clients. This emotional and enlightening conversation reflects on the past, confronts hard truths, and explores pathways toward healing and justice.

Don’t miss this critical discussion about acknowledging harm, advocating for change, and the work needed to ensure a safer future for all.

Guests:

• Senator Yvonne Boyer
• Nathalie Pambrun, Métis midwife

For more information:

• https://www.reproductivejusticesurvivors.ca/
• https://indigenousmidwifery.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/PS-ForcedSter.pdf
• https://cssspnql.com/en/produit/free-and-informed-consent-and-imposed-sterilizations-among-first-nations-and-inuit-women-in-quebec/
• https://sterilisationsimposees.cssspnql.com/?lang=en

To show your support for Bill s250, contact:

• Honourable Jamie Schmale, MP
• Senator Yvonne Boyer

__

We welcome feedback at CAMpodcast@canadianmidwives.org

Strength in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description: How is the scope of practice for midwives in Canada changing, and what are the impacts. CAM President CJ Blennherhasset discusses where midwives are making strides, and where are we hitting roadblocks? Later, a panel delves into the expanding role of midwives in sexual and reproductive health and rights.

(01:06) Feature interview: CJ Blennerhassett, RM, MHA, CHE and President of the Canadian Association of Midwives

(20:31) Round table: Dr. Liz Darling, RM, PhD, Assistant Dean, Midwifery at McMaster University, Valérie Perrault, RM and Jenna Bly, RM, BHSc, MA

(46:38) Your Word: Rebecca Hautala, RM

We welcome feedback at CAMpodcast@canadianmidwives.org

Strength in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description: In this episode we discuss the essence of care: how do midwives care for themselves and their clients? We explore how Artificial Intelligence is transforming how care is delivered and speak with a panel of midwives about burnout, caregiver self-care, and innovative care models

(01:39) Feature interview: Dr. Sandra Mutilva, PhD., EMBA, CHE, CRM, BHSc, RM(Ret)

(15:45) Round table: BA; Alison Humphreys, RM, BHSc, BA, Dr. Kathrin Stoll

(35:20) Your Word: Tekatsi:tsia’kwa Katsi Cook (Wolf Clan Mohawk), founding Indigenous Midwife of the Tsi Non:we lonnakeratstha Ona:granhsta on Six Nations of the Grand River

We welcome feedback at CAMpodcast@canadianmidwives.org

Strength in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Description: How does ethnicity impact health outcomes for both health care givers and receivers of care? In this episode we explore the experiences of racism among health care providers who are Indigenous, Black, or people of color (IBPOC), specifically within the context of midwifery in Ontario. A panel discussion on health equity, focusing on newcomer populations and clients with precarious immigration status follows.

(01:07) Interview: Faduma Gure, MSc

(21:30) Panel: Manavi Handa, RM, MHSc, BHSc and Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, and Shezeen Suleman, RM

We welcome feedback at CAMpodcast@canadianmidwives.org

Strength in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.