This post is also available in:
Birth has long been a sacred rite of passage in Indigenous communities—an experience deeply rooted in Land, lineage and tradition. For generations, Indigenous midwives, doulas and other birth workers have been the trusted stewards of this process, offering care that honors physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. But with the rise of Western medical systems, many of these traditional practices were sidelined, leaving Indigenous families to navigate healthcare systems that often overlooked their cultural and holistic needs. Today, a powerful movement is underway: Indigenous midwives and birth workers are reclaiming their roles and building networks, sharing knowledge, and revitalizing ancestral practices across the Americas.
Hear firsthand accounts from birth workers and families in Alaska, New Mexico and Mexico through videos produced for WKKF by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions.
Indigenous birth workers are helping to provide pre/post-natal care to expectant mothers and their families in remote communities.
Native birth workers and doulas are integrating traditional natal care and practices to help improve birth experiences for families in Navajo Nation.
A resurgence in traditional midwifery practices in the Chiapas region is helping Indigenous mothers and their families connect to their past and build a culturally safe future for their children.
Program Officer, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) commissioned three original paintings as companion pieces for the Caring with Courage storytelling series. The foundation invited prominent Indigenous artists from the three places featured in our videos — Alaska, New Mexico and Chiapas, Mexico – to tell a story about Indigenous midwifery, childbirth and motherhood through their own cultural lens. These unique paintings are an invitation to share in that cultural perspective and to approach the subjects of new life, compassion and continuity from a distinctly Indigenous point of view.
By Apay’uq Moore, 2025
By Lynnette Haozous, 2025
By Katia Gonzales (Tsebal Chon)
Explore the full Caring with Courage series presented by the International Council of Nurses and produced for them by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, which expands beyond midwifery and celebrates the role nurses play as innovators and trailblazers in their communities across the globe.
