Who was involved?
Lead researcher: Holly McKenzie, PhD, University of British Columbia
Guiding Elder: Betty McKenna (Ojibway).
Supervisory Committee: Colleen Varcoe, PhD RN (co-supervisor), Dory Nason, PhD (co-supervisor), Mary-Ellen Kelm, PhD
Who was involved?
*Some collaborators chose pseudonyms and one collaborator chose not to have any name associated with her participation and quotes
Sharing our study findings:
We are sharing the findings from this study in various ways. Click on any of the resources below to view or download a copy
- Community report
- Community report summary
- Policy briefing note addressing Royal University Hospital Employees coercing and forcing Indigenous women to have tubal ligations
- Fact sheets:
We created these fact sheets to share information about a) Indigenous women’s reproductive and sexual health rights and b) specific barriers that urban Indigenous women living on these territories deal with. Some of these fact sheets (Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Your Right to Informed Consent for Medical Treatment) address Indigenous rights and patient rights under Canadian law, and other fact sheets (Seeking an Abortion or Termination in Saskatoon area and Manitoba: Some Basic Information for Parents and Guardians about Child Protection and Apprehension) provides general information about navigating these systems.
- Journal article: Indigenous Women’s Resistance of Colonial Policies, Practices, and Reproductive Coercion
- Commentary: Responding to Indigenous Women’s Stories of Reproductive Coercion
- Holly McKenzie’s full dissertation: Indigenous women’s reproductive (in)justice(s) and self-determination: Envisioning futures through a collaborative research project
If you are interested learning about the project and/or arranging a presentation about the study findings contact Holly McKenzie at hollymckenzie(at)usask.ca for more information or to register.
We will continue to add resources as the results of this study are published in various forms. Check back or get in touch for more information!
Funders: Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health (now the Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health) and University of British Columbia’s School of Nursing (Sheena Davidson Research Fund)
The more my reproductive justice is facilitated, the more access my daughter will have to reproductive justice as she grows. If we talk about intergenerational trauma, we also need to talk about intergenerational healing, and we should also talk about reproductive justice as intergenerational.
Jannica Hoskins, Métis and two-spirit collaborator
Some related organizations:
Native Youth Sexual Health Network
Working internationally, the Native Youth Sexual Health Network works with various organizations and communities around sexual and reproductive justice.
Ka Ni Kanichihk is a non-profit organization in Winnipeg providing Indigenous identified programs and services that focus on wholeness and wellness and that build on the strengths and resilience of Indigenous peoples.
This grassroots organization facilitates Full Spectrum Indigenous Doula Training and educational opportunities about various aspects of reproductive, sexual and maternal health as well as midwifery.
A network of Vancouver-based Indigenous doulas who work with midwives, doctors and birth workers to provide full-circle mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual support to mothers and families during pregnancy, labour, birth, postpartum care and beyond.
National Aboriginal Council of Midwives
This council advocate for the restoration of midwifery education, the provision of midwifery services, and choice of birthplace for all Indigenous communities consistent with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights
This Canadian organization works in international and national policy, education and advocacy for sexual and reproductive health and rights.
First Nations Child and Family Services
This Canadian organization provides research, policy, professional development and networking support to Indigenous children and families.
SisterSong: Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective
Locating in the United States, Sistersong is a network of local, regional and national grassroots agencies representing women of color in the United States.
Native Women’s Association of Canada
This Canadian organization works to support Indigenous women and girls as well as their families through activism, policy analysis and advocacy.
Holly Ann McKenzie 