Mino gigizheb giinawaa (good morning everyone),
Formal letter: "It is with a heavy heart to share that I am no longer a student at The Ashland Birth Center. It is just part of my story and journey, and one day I will be back on the licensed midwifery path. I will always identify as an Indigenous Midwife, as I am always working with and for women and families. But what I have personally worked hard for in my bio, is just that, it is me. I have worked for 5 years advancing my knowledge and ability to support families in their lives. After many many hours unpaid and adding debt of school and trainings and sleepless nights, it has only brought me success and accomplishments.
I am very passionate about helping my people, I will always be helping Indigenous families, and even more so than what can be offered from a primary care provider. My vision and goals all evolve around extended personal support from all aspects of life. That is what is needed to build for mino bimaadiziwin (a good life). With the lows in life there is always highs as well. We will enter 2023 with ownership of two businesses, and with the ability to fully support my dreams of Wiiji-Nitaawiginaawasojig' Indigenous Birth Services, we will have educational classes, cultural classes, and support for BIPOC families. I am extremely grateful, and I am extremely proud of myself. Miigwech to all our my supporters, and I know you will remain my supporters wherever I end up on my journey, as well as I will remain there for you all. As long as you keep moving towards your dreams, doors will open!
Stay tuned for continuous updates, and see you all in 2023"
Feelings around it: For as long as I have been in the birth work, I have been known for my dedication and uplifting o
f the Ashland Birth Center. Every step along the way on this journey was towards my main purpose of having space in the birth center for myself. I feel my heart torn in two places after being dropped as a student less than a month from my ability to work at the birth center permanently. I did not want to post emotions with my formal letter, but I feel like a human who is not trying to create any new trauma when you are healing them, it is important to express all of the emotions. Lack of communication was the reasoning for being let go as a student. For me, as a Native American, silence is important in our lives. We are silent when we are working through obstacles in life, we are silent out of respect, and we are silent in uncertainties. I use silence to not unload all of my baggage on others, I don't let out the stress of all things in my life. Because as a mother, Indigenous woman, friend, business owner, and wife, there are many layers to them and some parts intertwine, while some are separated. That does not reflect on how someone's ability to do work or meet expectations. Equity is understanding that and giving the tools to support it. I feel like that is where my balance lays, I heal myself behind closed doors and I share with others when they want to know. I do not openly unload it without consent to do so each time. Especially when I know that individual is facing their own as well. At this point I am rambling on, but I wanted to give some depth and clarification to my feelings. As a lot of my supporters are in shock and do not understand.
I do not know where this leaves me on my path. I do know I will be delivering my grandchildren on our land, I will be a Midwife. But at this time, I am moving forward in my work. And I would appreciate the support from tribal communities. Book indigenous people for contractual work, bring in the support that is needed and making a difference for people on both ends.
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