Morningstar Mercredi, Dr. Karen Stote, and Nathalie Pambrun
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English
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Français
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ASL
Forced and Coerced Sterilization: The Ongoing Genocide of Indigenous People
This Webinar was presented and recorded on October 22, 2024.
In this session, speakers (a researcher, author/survivor, and midwife) discuss the historical and ongoing practice of coerced sterilization against Indigenous People in Canada. This session aims to deepen our understanding of the reasons for and implications of coerced sterilization for Indigenous women. It also engages in discussion of the ways Indigenous People, activists and allies are seeking to create systemic change to stop the practice by ensuring reproductive justice for Indigenous People.
Suggested Viewing Before Webinar
The presenters encourage all participants to take a few minutes and watch this short film before attending the webinar. BIRTH is available in English and French, Chipewyan and with closed captioning. It is also available in described video and the transcript can be downloaded.
Webinar Recording
Please note: There are no slides for this presentation
Learning Objectives
By participating in this Webinar, participants will better be able to:
-
Understand sterilization trends with respect to Indigenous People in Canada and the root causes of this violence
-
Know how Indigenous survivors understand this form of reproductive coercion and what changes they are calling for to stop the practice
-
Understand the role of the care provider in ensuring free, prior and informed consent and how Indigenous communities are restoring protective health wellness practices to prevent this violence
Speakers
Morningstar Mercredi is Wolf Clan of the Kai Taile Denesoline of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Treaty 8 Territory. She is an accomplished author, poet, artist, researcher, social activist, producer, actress, and filmmaker with a background in multimedia communications. Her work suffuses and moves across multiple genres of writing and mediums of storytelling. In addition to publishing several articles, she is the author of four books: ‘First edition; Sacred Bundles Unborn,’ 'Second edition; Sacred Bundles Unborn,' ‘Morningstar: A Warrior’s Spirit’, and ‘Fort Chipewyan Homecoming’ which explore the multifarious impacts that colonialism and persistent anti-Indigenous racism play in shaping definitions of personhood and how this, in turn, informs how one relates to and experiences a sense of self in the world, as well as home and community as an Indigenous person in Canada. Recently, Morningstar’s voice work was featured in The Unforgotten, a five-part film exploring the health and wellness experiences of diverse First Nations, Inuit, and M.tis peoples across five stages of life. The film uncovers systemic anti-Indigenous racism in the health care system, colonialism’s impacts, and the ongoing, and often intergenerational, trauma experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples. The film premiered in Canada in the summer of 2021 and remains a critical vehicle for raising awareness and catalyzing conversations about the anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare system and the persistent cultural and social ideologies underpinning medical colonialism. Her 40 years of activism and activation work are expansive; a five-minute introduction could only begin to touch on the breadth of her work and its far-reaching impact. Morningstar’s activism focused on raising awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and girls, and members of the LGBTQ2S communities. Today, she is a vocal advocate for the criminalization of the coerced and forced sterilization of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis women and girls in Canada. Morningstar describes her ‘advocacy’ work as an ongoing creative process, which she approaches as an ‘artist.’ Her gift as an oratory storyteller naturally evolved into various genres of writing and film, which she continuously challenges herself to explore. She regards herself as perfectly imperfect; a constant work in progress, with no ambition to be anyone other than herself. Passionate about her creative process and advocacy, she remains grounded in her ‘self.’ Morningstar regards her most treasured contribution in ‘her-story’ is her role as Setsune (Granny) as well as ‘Aunty’ and matriarch. Her activism as a storyteller is grounded in her awareness of her roles/responsibilities which she embraces with utmost respect for her grandchildren and community, she reverently acknowledges ‘our’ ancestors who have gone before ‘us,’ those among ‘us’ and those unborn. Morningstar Mercredi is a member of the Survivor’s Circle for Reproductive Justice Advisory. www.morningstarmercredi.com
Dr. Karen Stote has Irish, Scottish and English roots. She grew up on the unceded territories of the Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) and L’nu (Mi’kmaq) Peoples. Karen is Assistant Professor in the Women and Gender Studies program at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she teaches on Indigenous-settler history, feminism and the politics of decolonization and issues of reproductive and environmental justice. Her research focuses on the coerced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada. She is the author of An Act of Genocide: Colonialism and the Sterilization of Aboriginal Women (Fernwood Publishing, 2015). https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-arts/faculty-profiles/karen-stote/index.html
Nathalie Pambrun, also known as Pîsimoyâpiy iskwew (Rainbow Woman), is a proud member of the Métis Nation. Nathalie grew up in a large family that believed a strong Métis Nation was built on strong Métis families. Confronting challenges of poverty, discrimination, and identity, they upheld principles of autonomy and resourcefulness. Nathalie’s ancestors, the Franco-Manitoban Red River Métis, lived at the fork of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. Nathalie and their partner have three children they are raising with these principles. Nathalie is a founding member, former co-chair, and staff member of the National Council of Indigenous Midwives (NCIM). They played a key role in building partnerships between the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) and NACM, focusing on self-determination, reciprocity, and humility.As the first Indigenous president of CAM, Nathalie integrated Indigenous governance principles and prioritized a national strategy for equitable access, trauma-informed care, and anti-racist approaches in Canadian midwifery. Their work has significantly impacted the field. A midwife for 20 years, Nathalie primarily practiced in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory, working with urban Indigenous teens and newcomers to Canada. In fall 2022, their family relocated to Victoria, British Columbia, on Lək̓ʷəŋən territory. Following the guidance of Coast Salish families, Nathalie now works with another Red River Métis midwife at the Foundry Victoria Youth Clinic, Victoria Native Friendship Center and Songhees Wellness Center. Together, they are reclaiming their full scope of care, providing youth access to local Elders, including teachings about roles, responsibilities, wellness, and healthy relationships. They also support life-givers with mental health and substance use issues, helping them navigate health and support services safely.
La stérilisation forcée et contrainte : le génocide continu des peuples autochtones
Ce Webinaire a été présenté et enregistré le 22 octobre 2024.
Au cours de cette séance, les conférencières (une chercheuse, une auteure/survivante et une sage-femme) discutent de la pratique historique et continue de la stérilisation contrainte à l’encontre les peuples autochtones au Canada. Cette séance vise à approfondir notre compréhension des raisons et des répercussions de la stérilisation contrainte pour les femmes autochtones. Elle se lance aussi dans une discussion sur les façons dont les peuples autochtones, les militant.e.s et les allié.e.s cherchent à créer un changement systémique pour mettre fin à la pratique en assurant la justice reproductive pour les peuples autochtones.
Enregistrement du Webinaire
Remarque : il n'y a pas de diapositives pour cette présentation
Objectifs d'apprentissage
Ce webinaire permet aux participant.e.s de
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Comprendre les tendances en matière de stérilisation des Autochtones au Canada et les causes profondes de cette violence
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Se renseigner sur la façon dont les survivantes autochtones comprennent cette forme de coercition reproductive et les changements qu’elles demandent pour mettre fin à cette pratique
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Comprendre le rôle du fournisseur de soins pour ce qui est d’assurer un consentement préalable, éclairé et donné librement, et la façon dont les communautés autochtones rétablissent des pratiques de protection et de mieux-être en santé pour prévenir cette violence
Conférencières
Morningstar Mercredi fait partie du clan du Loup de Kai Taile Denesoline de la Première Nation des Chipewyans d’Athabasca sur le territoire visé par le Traité 8. Auteure, poète, artiste, chercheuse, militante sociale, réalisatrice, actrice et cinéaste accomplie, elle possède une formation en communications multimédias. Son travail s’articule autour de multiples genres d’écriture et de moyens de narration. En plus de publier plusieurs articles, elle est l’auteure de quatre livres, « First edition; Sacred Bundles Unborn », « Second edition; Sacred Bundles Unborn », « Morningstar : A Warrior’s Spirit », et « Fort Chipewyan Homecoming », qui explorent comment les diverses répercussions du colonialisme et du racisme persistant envers les Autochtones façonnent les définitions de l’identité personnelle et comment ces définitions influent sur la façon dont une personne se perçoit et fait l’expérience de soi dans le monde, chez elle et dans sa communauté en tant que personne autochtone au Canada. Récemment, Morningstar a prêté sa voix au film The Unforgotten. Ce film en cinq parties explore les expériences de santé et de bien-être de divers peuples des Premières Nations, des Inuits et des Métis pendant cinq étapes de leur vie. Le film met en lumière le racisme systémique envers les Autochtones dans le système de soins de santé, les répercussions du colonialisme ainsi que les traumatismes continus, et souvent intergénérationnels, vécus par les Premières Nations, les Inuits et les Métis. Le film a été présenté en première au Canada à l’été 2021 et demeure un véhicule essentiel pour sensibiliser les gens et catalyser les conversations sur le racisme anti-Autochtones dans le système de soins de santé et les idéologies culturelles et sociales persistantes qui sous-tendent le colonialisme médical. Ses 40 années d’activisme et de travail d’activation sont considérables; une introduction de cinq minutes ne pourrait qu’effleurer l’ampleur de son travail et son impact considérable. L’activisme de Morningstar s’est concentré sur la sensibilisation aux femmes et aux filles autochtones disparues et assassinées, ainsi qu’aux membres des communautés LGBTQ2S. Aujourd’hui, elle milite énergiquement en faveur de la criminalisation de la stérilisation forcée et contrainte des femmes et des filles des Premières Nations, inuites et métisses au Canada. Morningstar décrit son travail de « représentation » comme un processus créatif continu, qu’elle aborde comme « artiste ». Son don de conteuse oratoire s’est naturellement transformé en divers genres d’écriture et de film, qu’elle se met constamment au défi d’explorer. Elle se considère comme parfaitement imparfaite; un travail en constante évolution, sans ambition d’être autre qu’elle-même. Passionnée par son processus créatif et son travail de défense des droits, elle demeure ancrée dans son « moi ». Morningstar considère que sa contribution la plus précieuse à l’histoire des femmes est son rôle de Setsune (grand-mère), de tante et de matriarche. Son activisme en tant que conteuse est fondé sur sa conscience de ses rôles et responsabilités qu’elle assume avec le plus grand respect pour ses petits-enfants et sa communauté. Elle reconnaît respectueusement « nos » ancêtres qui « nous » ont précédés, les personnes qui se trouvent parmi « nous » et les personnes qui ne sont pas encore nées. Morningstar Mercredi est membre du Comité consultatif national du Cercle des survivantes pour la justice reproductive. www.morningstarmercredi.com
La Dre Karen Stote a des racines irlandaises, écossaises et anglaises. Elle a grandi sur les territoires non cédés des peuples Wəlastəkwiyik (Malécites) et L’nu (Mi’kmaq). Karen est professeure adjointe au programme d’études sur les femmes et le genre de l’Université Wilfrid Laurier, où elle enseigne l’histoire des peuples autochtones et des colons, le féminisme et la politique de la décolonisation, et les enjeux de justice reproductive et environnementale. Ses recherches portent sur la stérilisation contrainte des femmes autochtones au Canada. Elle est l’auteure du livre An Act of Genocide : Colonialism and the Sterilization of Aboriginal Women (Fernwood Publishing, 2015). https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-arts/faculty-profiles/karen-stote/index.html
Nathalie Pambrun, ou Pîsimoyâpiy Iskwew (Femme arc-en-ciel), est fièrement membre de la nation métisse. Nathalie a grandi dans une grande famille qui croyait qu’une nation métisse forte était bâtie sur des familles métisses fortes. Confrontée aux défis de la pauvreté, de la discrimination et de l’identité, sa famille a maintenu les principes de l’autonomie et de l’ingéniosité. Les ancêtres de Nathalie, les Métis franco-manitobains de la rivière Rouge, vivaient à l’embouchure des rivières Assiniboine et Rouge. Nathalie et san partenaire ont trois enfants, et les élèvent selon ces principes. Nathalie est membre fondataire, anciennement coprésidenxe et membre du personnel du Conseil national des sages-femmes autochtones. Iel a joué un rôle clé dans l’établissement de partenariats entre l’Association canadienne des sages-femmes (ACSF) et le NACM, en mettant l’accent sur l’autodétermination, la réciprocité et l’humilité. En tant que premian présidenxe autochtone de l’ACSF, Nathalie a intégré les principes de gouvernance autochtone et accordé la priorité à une stratégie nationale d’accès équitable, de soins tenant compte des traumatismes et d’approches antiracistes dans la profession de sage-femme au Canada. Son travail a eu des répercussions importantes sur le milieu. Sage-femme pendant 20 ans, Nathalie a exercé principalement à Winnipeg, sur le territoire du Traité 1, auprès d’adolescent.e.s autochtones vivant en milieu urbain et de nouveaux arrivants au Canada. À l’automne 2022, sa famille a déménagé à Victoria, en Colombie-Britannique, sur le territoire de Lək̓ʷəŋən. Suivant les conseils des familles des Salish de la Côte, Nathalie travaille maintenant avec une autre sage-femme métisse de la rivière Rouge à la Foundry Victoria Youth Clinic, au Centre d’amitié autochtone de Victoria et au Songhees Wellness Center. Ensemble, les deux sages-femmes se réapproprient toute leur gamme de soins, en donnant aux jeunes l’accès à des aînés locaux, y compris des enseignements sur les rôles, les responsabilités, le bien-être et les relations saines. Les deux collègues aident également les donneuses de vie aux prises avec des problèmes de santé mentale et de toxicomanie, en les aidant à s’orienter dans les services de santé et de soutien en toute sécurité.
Forced and Coerced Sterilization: The Ongoing Genocide of Indigenous People
ASL Channel Recording
This Webinar was presented and recorded on October 22, 2024.
In this session, speakers (a researcher, author/survivor, and midwife) discuss the historical and ongoing practice of coerced sterilization against Indigenous People in Canada. This session aims to deepen our understanding of the reasons for and implications of coerced sterilization for Indigenous women. It also engages in discussion of the ways Indigenous People, activists and allies are seeking to create systemic change to stop the practice by ensuring reproductive justice for Indigenous People.
Suggested Viewing Before Webinar
The presenters encourage all participants to take a few minutes and watch this short film before attending the webinar. BIRTH is available in English and French, Chipewyan and with closed captioning. It is also available in described video and the transcript can be downloaded.
Please note: There are no slides for this presentation
Learning Objectives
By participating in this Webinar, participants will better be able to:
-
Understand sterilization trends with respect to Indigenous People in Canada and the root causes of this violence
-
Know how Indigenous survivors understand this form of reproductive coercion and what changes they are calling for to stop the practice
-
Understand the role of the care provider in ensuring free, prior and informed consent and how Indigenous communities are restoring protective health wellness practices to prevent this violence
Speakers
Morningstar Mercredi is Wolf Clan of the Kai Taile Denesoline of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Treaty 8 Territory. She is an accomplished author, poet, artist, researcher, social activist, producer, actress, and filmmaker with a background in multimedia communications. Her work suffuses and moves across multiple genres of writing and mediums of storytelling. In addition to publishing several articles, she is the author of four books: ‘First edition; Sacred Bundles Unborn,’ 'Second edition; Sacred Bundles Unborn,' ‘Morningstar: A Warrior’s Spirit’, and ‘Fort Chipewyan Homecoming’ which explore the multifarious impacts that colonialism and persistent anti-Indigenous racism play in shaping definitions of personhood and how this, in turn, informs how one relates to and experiences a sense of self in the world, as well as home and community as an Indigenous person in Canada. Recently, Morningstar’s voice work was featured in The Unforgotten, a five-part film exploring the health and wellness experiences of diverse First Nations, Inuit, and M.tis peoples across five stages of life. The film uncovers systemic anti-Indigenous racism in the health care system, colonialism’s impacts, and the ongoing, and often intergenerational, trauma experienced by First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples. The film premiered in Canada in the summer of 2021 and remains a critical vehicle for raising awareness and catalyzing conversations about the anti-Indigenous racism in the healthcare system and the persistent cultural and social ideologies underpinning medical colonialism. Her 40 years of activism and activation work are expansive; a five-minute introduction could only begin to touch on the breadth of her work and its far-reaching impact. Morningstar’s activism focused on raising awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and girls, and members of the LGBTQ2S communities. Today, she is a vocal advocate for the criminalization of the coerced and forced sterilization of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis women and girls in Canada. Morningstar describes her ‘advocacy’ work as an ongoing creative process, which she approaches as an ‘artist.’ Her gift as an oratory storyteller naturally evolved into various genres of writing and film, which she continuously challenges herself to explore. She regards herself as perfectly imperfect; a constant work in progress, with no ambition to be anyone other than herself. Passionate about her creative process and advocacy, she remains grounded in her ‘self.’ Morningstar regards her most treasured contribution in ‘her-story’ is her role as Setsune (Granny) as well as ‘Aunty’ and matriarch. Her activism as a storyteller is grounded in her awareness of her roles/responsibilities which she embraces with utmost respect for her grandchildren and community, she reverently acknowledges ‘our’ ancestors who have gone before ‘us,’ those among ‘us’ and those unborn. Morningstar Mercredi is a member of the Survivor’s Circle for Reproductive Justice Advisory. www.morningstarmercredi.com
Dr. Karen Stote has Irish, Scottish and English roots. She grew up on the unceded territories of the Wəlastəkwiyik (Maliseet) and L’nu (Mi’kmaq) Peoples. Karen is Assistant Professor in the Women and Gender Studies program at Wilfrid Laurier University, where she teaches on Indigenous-settler history, feminism and the politics of decolonization and issues of reproductive and environmental justice. Her research focuses on the coerced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada. She is the author of An Act of Genocide: Colonialism and the Sterilization of Aboriginal Women (Fernwood Publishing, 2015). https://www.wlu.ca/academics/faculties/faculty-of-arts/faculty-profiles/karen-stote/index.html
Nathalie Pambrun, also known as Pîsimoyâpiy iskwew (Rainbow Woman), is a proud member of the Métis Nation. Nathalie grew up in a large family that believed a strong Métis Nation was built on strong Métis families. Confronting challenges of poverty, discrimination, and identity, they upheld principles of autonomy and resourcefulness. Nathalie’s ancestors, the Franco-Manitoban Red River Métis, lived at the fork of the Assiniboine and Red Rivers. Nathalie and their partner have three children they are raising with these principles. Nathalie is a founding member, former co-chair, and staff member of the National Council of Indigenous Midwives (NCIM). They played a key role in building partnerships between the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) and NACM, focusing on self-determination, reciprocity, and humility.As the first Indigenous president of CAM, Nathalie integrated Indigenous governance principles and prioritized a national strategy for equitable access, trauma-informed care, and anti-racist approaches in Canadian midwifery. Their work has significantly impacted the field. A midwife for 20 years, Nathalie primarily practiced in Winnipeg on Treaty 1 territory, working with urban Indigenous teens and newcomers to Canada. In fall 2022, their family relocated to Victoria, British Columbia, on Lək̓ʷəŋən territory. Following the guidance of Coast Salish families, Nathalie now works with another Red River Métis midwife at the Foundry Victoria Youth Clinic, Victoria Native Friendship Center and Songhees Wellness Center. Together, they are reclaiming their full scope of care, providing youth access to local Elders, including teachings about roles, responsibilities, wellness, and healthy relationships. They also support life-givers with mental health and substance use issues, helping them navigate health and support services safely.
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