KarunaNews Story

Thanks to winning this year’s $1 million Arctic Inspiration Prize, the Council of Yukon First Nations' Indigenous midwifery program, Bibia Nàtsät Ku, will open a facility in Whitehorse where Yukon First Nations elders and midwives can offer sexual and reproductive health care, including birthing services. The program has been building capacity over the last few years, such as training several dozen Indigenous doulas, and hopes to have a Yukon First Nations midwife on the team soon. It’s all about bringing back more traditional birthing practices and ceremony, says CYFN executive director Shadelle Chambers. In all, 12 projects across the North won Arctic Inspiration Prize money totaling $3.7 million.