Canada ’s evacuation policy for pregnant First Nations women: Resignation, resilience, and resistance

Aboriginal peoples in Canada are comprised of First Nations, M étis, and Inuit. Health care services for First Nations who live on rural and remote reserves are mostly provided by the Government of Canada through the federal department, Health Canada. One Health Canada policy, the evacuation policy, requires all First Nations women living on rural and remote r eserves to leave their communities between 36 and 38 weeks gestational age and travel to urban centres to await labour and birth. Although there are a few First Nations communities in Canada that have re-established community birthing and Aboriginal midwifery is growing, most First Nations communiti es are still reliant on the evacuation policy for labour and birthing services.
Source: Women and Birth - Category: Midwifery Authors: Tags: Original Research - Qualitative Source Type: research