Keeping the Children Home

Summary

In Inuit Nunangat, racism, discrimination, colonial policies, and the medicalization of childbirth have contributed to poor health, family separation and disconnection from culture, community, and Inuit ways of knowing and being. Since 2019, we have engaged in community-driven participatory research with Inuit Elders, youth, leaders, community members, government and non-government organizations, academics, and supporters. Our learning has highlighted the need for socio-health research to focus on perinatal and sexual and reproductive health rights, perinatal supports and services, and child welfare policies and practices that result in poor health, negative impacts to social and cultural wellbeing, and family separation.

We will work with Inuit in Canada, Nunavummiut (those from Nunavut), and socio-health supports and systems Inuit children and families encounter to better understand the existing barriers/facilitators to perinatal health and wellness, to develop resources to support families, and to reduce psychosocial and cultural stressors, during the perinatal period, such as family separation.