Protesters gather to condemn Ford's health care, Bill 5 policies
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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Six Nations features in new docuseries looking at birth through an Indigenous lens
A new docuseries about reclaiming Indigenous traditions around birth could serve as a useful tool for health-care workers and people who are expecting — whether they're Indigenous or not, says filmmaker Rebeka Tabobondung. 'We binge-watched it,' Katsitsionhawi Hill said of the eight-part 'Spirit of Birth' docuseries, out now on APTN's Lumi app. Although Hill and her partner, Joe Doolittle, were featured in the series, they were curious to see 'what other people are doing, too, and what we wanted to do differently for this baby,' she told The Spectator. The docuseries was inspired by Tabobondung's own experience giving birth nearly 20 years ago. As she spent time in Wasauksing First Nation (between Barrie and Sudbury) connecting with family, she told The Spectator that she got to wondering: What were the traditional ways of thinking around pregnancy and around birth? 'It was a powerful and transformative stage of life,' but Tabobondung didn't see Indigenous reflections or resources around it in the mainstream media, she said. The desire to ask elders and Indigenous midwives about their traditional knowledge — and document and share that — took her to six communities, to explore how they are 'restoring birth for themselves,' she said. That included Six Nations of the Grand River and the Tsi Nón:we Ionnakerátstha (Birthing Centre), 'probably the most established Indigenous-led midwifery practice in Canada,' Tabobondung said. They were 'trailblazers,' establishing the practice 25 years ago with the guidance of the community, after traditional knowledge was silenced by colonization, she said. In that time, the centre has welcomed more than 3,000 babies and trained over 20 midwives in a program balancing contemporary and traditional knowledge, according to the docuseries. The program operates under an exemption clause, meaning it is regulated by the community, not the College of Midwives of Ontario. It means they can practice midwifery on Six Nations. If a delivery gets transferred to the hospital, a doctor would take over the care, but the midwife could still provide support. It's something Brantford General Hospital is working to change from a credentialing perspective, so the Indigenous midwife could continue to oversee care, Brant Community Healthcare System CEO and president Bonnie Camm told The Spectator. In a production still, Joe Doolittle sits with his daughter at the Six Nations Birthing Centre. This has happened to Hill for two of her three deliveries. Because she knows there's a chance it could happen with her current pregnancy, she registered with Midwives of Brant, who are collaborating with an Indigenous midwife, so she has consistent care working in tandem if she does get transferred to the hospital. But she will still incorporate Indigenous traditions into her delivery — like for the first language her baby hears to be Mohawk, she said. They're thinking of having people wear ribbon skirts at the birth — and Hill may even deliver wearing one with the intention of reclaiming the space and connection to culture and the Earth. 'Our teachings are that wearing that ribbon skirt, you're fully grounded,' she said. Since watching the docuseries, Hill and Doolittle have also been thinking of doing 'a little birth ceremony,' she said. It could involve preparing tobacco ties — a significant gift for Indigenous people — at a midwife appointment, and 'putting our positive intentions into them' and tying them up and saving them. At the beginning of labour, they could use it to smudge the home, cleaning the space and air where she plans to give birth. 'I just thought that would be really beautiful and honourable for the space and the environment that we're going to be bringing baby in, showing baby that love spiritually,' she said. The series was released on Mother's Day, but Tabobondung said they're 'just starting to kind of get it out into the world.' Still, she has already heard of aspiring midwives hosting watch parties. 'I'm excited to have people learn about it and invite them in to learn about it, because these teachings, I think, are for everybody, not just the Indigenous community,' she said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Protesters gather to condemn Ford's health care, Bill 5 policies
Several dozen protesters from the Ontario Health Coalition and other groups have gathered across the road from Deerhurst Resort to blast what they call Premier Doug Ford's increasing 'privatization' of health care and take shots at his Bill 5, fast-tracking mines and other infrastructure development, for overriding environmental and Indigenous treaty protections.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Health care advocates afraid of major cuts and privatization hold rally at Council of the Federation
HUNTSVILLE, Ontario, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Outside the Council of the Federation and the gathering of First Ministers, public health care advocates from across Canada will be joining a rally and car cavalcade. Attendees include Health Coalitions, patients, patient advocates, nurses, doctors, care workers, mental health advocacy organizations, environmental groups, Indigenous organizations, seniors' groups, union leaders, and more. When & Where: Rally and Car Cavalcade – Tuesday, July 22 Who: hosted by the Canadian Health Coalition, Ontario Health Coalition, and the Ontario Federation of Labour. As Canada's leaders meet, our public health care system is, without exaggeration, in open crisis. Runaway privatization is taking funding and staff away from public health care services. Staffing shortages are a national catastrophe, forcing emergency departments to close and leaving health care workers with impossible workloads while patients wait longer and suffer more. Private clinics are violating the Canada Health Act, charging patients hundreds to thousands of dollars for surgeries and diagnostic tests in illegal user fees and extra-billing. Seniors can't access the care they need. Mental health and addiction services are underfunded, subject to privatization and cuts, or simply unavailable. Millions still do not have access to family medicine. The implementation of the first phase of pharmacare has stalled. This event serves to remind our political leaders that the economy exists to serve people, not the other way around, and the economy is more than militarism and private sector projects. If a 70-year-old goes to a private clinic and is forced to use their life savings and pay thousands of dollars for their surgery, what chance do they have to get out of poverty for the rest of their life? If a person has diabetes and cannot afford their insulin and supplies, what economy is there for them? Health care can't wait, and privatization is the destruction of Public Medicare, not a solution. Health Coalitions are demanding funding, resources, and public solutions in the public interest. For more information: Natalie Mehra, executive director, Ontario Health Coalition cell (416) 230-6402; Salah Shadir, administration & operations director, Ontario Health Coalition cell (647) 648-5706.
