Blind Auntie Wisdom Indigenous Doula Training Framework
Tess Abrahamson-Richards, MPH
Volume 26, Number 1 (2026) 26 (1): 62–82
Keywords Washington Indigenous communities, doula, indigenous maternal health, care access
Abstract
This paper highlights Indigenous doulas as essential knowledge keepers who connect Indigenous science, clinical care, and community birthing practices. Addressing ongoing maternal and infant health inequities, it examines the Indigenous Birth Justice Network (IBJN) Training program through the perspectives of Indigenous birth workers and scholars. The study explores the program’s culturally grounded development, cohort experiences, and impacts. It introduces the Auntie Wisdom Indigenous Doula Training Framework as a model for Indigenous-led certification in reproductive and perinatal care. Ultimately, the paper advocates for strengthening Indigenous sovereignty in healthcare while affirming intergenerational knowledge, cultural continuity, and community-driven approaches to birth justice and well-being.
Tess Abrahamson-Richards, MPH
Published June 5, 2026
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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