Midwifery Education Program

What is a midwife?

• In Quebec, a midwife is a primary caregiver for pregnant people from the beginning of pregnancy, through birth and for them and their baby for 6 weeks after the birth. If you have a midwife you do not also need a doctor 

• A midwife has all the same skills as a doctor and nurse and can order all the same tests and ultrasounds 

• What is special to midwifery is: 

  • We build personal and respectful relationships with our clients and make time for all your questions 

  • We offer informed choice – this means we offer clients as much information as possible then support them to be the final decision maker 

  • We offer choice of birthplace – we attend births in hospital, home, birth home and traditional dwellings.

  • We see this journey as normal and natural and trust in women’s bodies. That doesn’t mean we don’t act if something is not normal and we work with doctors and nurses if that happens. 

  • We work with “low-risk” clients – there are certain medical conditions or events we transfer to doctors for 

• There are many Indigenous midwives in Canada. Indigenous midwives have the same skills as regular midwives but also:

  • Have skills for remote areas 

  • Weave waapimausuun into their knowledge and care 

  • Provide community health education and support 

  • Provide care for women across all the stages of life 

  • Work with parents throughout their whole journey 

Midwifery Services in Eeyou Itschee 

• Midwifery Services, staffed with midwives from the South, began in 2018 in Chisasibi. At this time, over 300 people have been referred to our services and over 85 babies have been born on territory 

• We accept “low-risk” clients – our office can explain if you are eligible 

• Our clients can choose to give birth on territory or in the hospital in the South; sometimes Awash clients are referred to us after the baby is born for breastfeeding and general support 

• We work closely with Awash and the CMC staff, as well as Elders and community leaders 

• Midwives are supported by Eeyou/Eenou’ch Birth Assistants. They take care of the Birth Home but also provide labour support, translation, home visits and breastfeeding support. We hope one day to be completely staffed by Eeyou/Eenou’ch midwives. 

• We accept people from Whapmagoostui and Wemindji who want to give birth in Chisasibi. They are mostly cared for by Awash in pregnancy but meet the midwives a couple of times then come to Chisasibi closer to their due date. There is a Boarding Home and escorts and children are welcome 

• We will be expanding our Services to Waskaganish and Mistissini 

• People can self-refer or ask their PCCR, nurse, doctor, social worker, mental health worker or Nishiyuu to refer them 

Midwifery Education Program – General Info 

• Eeyou Itschee has been working to bring back birth on territory and Eeyou/Eenou’ch midwifery for a long time 

• Midwifery Services began in Chisasibi in 2018. Over 85 babies have now been born on territory 

• The Cree Health Board is developing an on-territory program to train Eeyou/Eenou’ch midwives that will start in 2023 

• Students will learn all the same skills as someone who goes to university. They will also learn skills for the role of the Indigenous midwife; like, weaving waapimausuun into their knowledge and care, supporting women through all the life stages, and providing health education and support to the communities 

• Community members are guiding the development of this program and student feedback will be important. It is regional, but will start in Chisasibi then expand to Waskaganish and Mistissini 

• The program is “competency-based”. This means most of the learning will be by doing – not in a classroom. Students will follow Birth Assistants, midwives, doctors, nurses, Eldersand other kinds of health care workers in their day-to-day work. You graduate when you have achieved all the competencies. It does not matter what order you learn them. If you have some competencies already, you’ll go through the program more quickly. 

• Waapimausuun is woven into the program with Elder teachings and land-based intensives 

• Students will be hired as PCCRs with part-time scheduled hours, over time and on call hours. They are guaranteed a job with the CHB if they finish. It will take most people 4-6 years to graduate 

Midwifery Education Program – How to apply 

• Eeyou Itschee has been working to bring back birth on territory and Eeyou/Eenou’ch midwifery for a long time 

• Midwifery Services began in Chisasibi in 2018. Over 85 babies have now been born on territory as of February 2023

• The Cree Health Board is developing an on-territory program to train Eeyou/Eenou’ch midwives that will start in 2023 

• The Midwifery Education Program is not accepting applications yet. This is how it will work: 

  • Students will be hired as PCCRs with part-time scheduled hours, over time and on call hours. When the program is ready, job postings will come out 

  • The program will start in Chisasibi, then expand to Waskaganish and Mistissini but any Cree beneficiary or Indigenous person who has been in the community a long time across the region can apply 

• There are no academic requirements except basic spoken or written English. We are looking for some personal qualities, like patience, compassion, the strength to advocate for yourself and the families, and dedication and commitment. We expect people to know what the job of an Indigenous midwife is. Any related experience from work, school and life as well as a history of community involvement is useful 

• Once the posting is open we will offer information sessions and will support you to do the application 

• After people apply, some people will be invited to an interview with a midwife, the midwifery education program PPRO, an Elder and either an Eeyou/Eenou’ch Birth Assistant or an Eeyou/Eenou’ch midwifery client. There will be 10 questions. Hiring is not based on seniority but on the person’s ability to do the program and then work as a midwife