Reconciliation: Healing the Past, Building the Future
Writing about my ancestry and patriarchy as a birth worker must include a sincere discussion of reconciliation, because healing from the erosion of women’s wisdom requires more than just reclaiming what was lost. Reconciliation involves not only acknowledging the harm done, but also creating space for collective healing and actively working toward a more balanced, equitable future.
There are 2 parts to reconciliation in regards to the 2 previous blogs on ancestry and patriarchy.
1. Reconciling with the Loss of Women’s Wisdom
For millennia, societies thrived on women’s embodied knowledge of birth, healing, and community care. The shift toward patriarchal systems was not just a loss for women—it was a loss for entire cultures. Reconciliation here means:
Honoring what was lost—recognizing the ways in which women's wisdom was systematically erased and devalued.
Reclaiming what we can—reviving traditional practices around birth, postpartum, and women’s health.
Healing intergenerational wounds—recognizing that both women and men have inherited patterns of disconnection, and actively working to restore balance.
This is about integrating what we’ve learned and choosing a new way forward—one that values cooperation, intuition, and cyclical wisdom.
2. Reconciling with Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Indigenous cultures around the world, including those of Turtle Island (North America), have long held wisdom that aligns with a balanced, reciprocal way of living. Many of these traditions, including matrilineal kinship systems, land stewardship, and community-based child-rearing, were systematically disrupted by colonialism and patriarchy.
True reconciliation in this context means:
Acknowledging the harm—recognizing the role that colonization played in erasing Indigenous knowledge, including birth and postpartum traditions.
Listening and learning—seeking out and uplifting Indigenous voices, midwives, and knowledge keepers.
Practicing reciprocity—not just “taking inspiration” from Indigenous wisdom, but finding ways to give back and support Indigenous-led initiatives.
Indigenous maternal health has been deeply impacted by colonial policies. Reconciliation here means working toward birth sovereignty and community-led perinatal care.
Cultural Safety Training
After it was brought to my attention by Stephanie Pintar, a fellow birth worker, I recently completed the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) Doulas for Aboriginal Families Cultural Safety Training. I was deeply moved by the wealth of information shared, and the depth and clarity of the presentation were truly inspiring. This course is one I highly recommend to anyone working in the birth world, not just in BC or Canada, but beyond—because the impacts of patriarchy and colonization extend far and wide.
In my INNATE certification, we certainly explored the history of gynecology, with a particular focus on racism, especially within the African American community, given its roots in the US. The insights I gained from the BCAAFC course have greatly enhanced and organized the knowledge I already had, making me more aware of the Indigenous experience in the birth world.
I’d love to share more about this learning in my blog, as I believe it’s vital to continue expanding our understanding and cultural sensitivity in the birth space.
Restoration of Indigenous birthing traditions
The reconciliation of women’s wisdom is inseparable from the restoration of Indigenous birthing traditions. For generations, Indigenous women were the bearers of profound knowledge, passed down through their communities to guide the sacred process of birth.
However, colonization stripped Indigenous peoples of this knowledge, severing the connection between women, their bodies, and their cultural practices. The impact of colonization on Indigenous childbirth includes suppression of traditional birth practices, medicalization and institutionalization of birth, forced sterilization (for population control), and displacement and loss of access to healthcare, forced Spiritual and Cultural Disconnection, and eventually led to Intergenerational Trauma and Mistrust of Healthcare Systems.
What is amazing is that despite these disruptions, Indigenous resilience has endured. The reclamation of Indigenous birthing traditions is a powerful act of reconciliation, healing, and sovereignty.
Reconciliation in birth means restoring traditional birthing practices, addressing historical injustices, and ensuring culturally safe care. This includes reclaiming traditional knowledge:
Indigenous communities are reviving birth teachings, ensuring their transmission to future generations.
It also means creating culturally safe birthing spaces: Indigenous-led birth centers and cultural safety training in hospitals are improving maternity care.
This wouldn't be the same without empowering Indigenous birth workers, like Indigenous midwives and doulas.
We all need to be advocating for policy & systemic change: Governments must acknowledge past harms and fund Indigenous-led birth initiatives.
Finally, supporting traditional parenting practices: revitalizing postpartum care, naming ceremonies, and placenta traditions strengthens cultural continuity.
While I am not Indigenous - I am not even native to North America, nor do I attend births, as an INNATE Postpartum Care Practitioner and Birth Story Listener I can support reconciliation by honoring Indigenous traditions and centering Indigenous voices. I can learn about Indigenous birth traditions, listen with respect, and recognize biases. I can hold space for healing: through my birth debrief training I can help families reclaim childbirth as a sacred event. Lastly, I can build relationships with Indigenous midwives, Elders, and community birth advocates.
Moving Forward: A New Vision for Balance
The wisdom embedded in Indigenous birthing traditions is not just about the act of birth itself; it is about community, spirituality, and respect for the land. Restoring Indigenous birthing traditions is a critical step toward reclaiming women’s wisdom, both as a healing force for individuals and as a collective act of sovereignty. This reclamation involves more than reintroducing ceremonies and practices—it is about empowering women to reconnect with their ancestral knowledge, challenge the harmful effects of colonialism, and ensure that future generations inherit a legacy of cultural pride and strength.
As we support the revitalization of Indigenous birthing traditions, we are also supporting the profound wisdom that exists within every woman. This wisdom is not only vital for reclaiming birth spaces but also for healing the intergenerational trauma caused by the suppression of cultural practices. Through honoring this wisdom, we create space for women to lead the way in restoring practices that respect their bodies, their cultures, and their communities.
Ultimately, the reconciliation of women’s wisdom with the restoration of Indigenous birthing traditions is a shared journey—one that embraces both individual healing and collective empowerment. It is about acknowledging the pain of the past, while also cultivating a future where Indigenous women are the empowered leaders of their own birthing journeys and the custodians of their sacred traditions.
Reconciliation is an ongoing process, not a destination. Whether we are healing from the wounds of patriarchy or the impacts of colonization, the path forward requires deep listening, humility, and a commitment to restoring balance.
Each step we take to honor and restore women’s wisdom—while also respecting and supporting Indigenous knowledge—creates a ripple effect for future generations.
