Statement of Solidarity & Support

Since 1986, the Alberta Association of Midwives (AAM) has been the professional body that serves a passionate community of midwives and the midwifery profession in Alberta. As primary health care providers, registered midwives deliver high-quality, safe and cost-effective maternity care and have been publicly funded since 2009.

Duty Bearers: The AAM acknowledges our duty to condemn and combat all forms of racism, discrimination and violence (individual, systemic and institutional).

Rights Holders: We acknowledge that, for generations, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) individuals and communities have had and continue to have their human rights violated in Canada.

We further acknowledge that some people face multiple forms of systemic oppression that combine, overlap or intersect. This includes people who are 2SLGBTQ+, are a religious minority, have a disability, are neurodiverse and/or have a family structure that is non-traditional. This intersectionality can make their lived experiences and oppression even more complex.

We recognize that overlapping systems of oppression, histories and trauma have an enduring impact on access to health care and the ability of all people to make free, informed, self-determined health care decisions.

Solidarity: We stand in solidarity with BIPOC individuals and communities.  Although it should never have been necessary, we honour their histories of resiliency and intergenerational survivance. We support healing from historical and ongoing trauma and violence experienced within health care settings. 

Our Own Work:  We have started our own work organizationally and individually. We are awakening, listening, acting and amplifying the voices of BIPOC people and communities and are committed to advancing the goals that they identify. 

We have made mistakes and will surely make more as we learn. When we are called in or challenged, we respond with humility and genuine regret, and we swiftly correct our errors. We still have a long way to go on the perpetual journey to justice and equity.

We will create safe spaces for targeted midwives to have their voices centred, advocate for inclusive and supportive education pathways, support mentorship programs, and promote funding initiatives that assist targeted students. We will work in partnership with organizations and individuals who can offer guidance and we will compensate fairly for labour.

We hereby commit to complete the following actions by December 31, 2020:

• Organize additional Anti-Oppression & Equity (AO&E) training for our Board of Directors and staff (previous trainings were held in February and June 2019)

• Offer AO&E training for our members

• Engage with the College of Midwives of Alberta to determine how continuing education for midwives can support the advancement of AO&E

• Design and implement a mentorship program

• Establish criteria principles for fundraising opportunities, explore possibilities and commit to at least one fundraising campaign

Reproductive Justice Framework: We advocate that a reproductive justice framework be applied to all perinatal services, mental health care, educational programs and clinical practices. The framework design must include the perspectives of and consider the lived experiences of BIPOC midwives, student midwives, colleagues and clients. 

Call to Action: The profession of midwifery in Alberta needs to increase its racial, gender and sexual diversity and inclusion. The AAM believes that all midwives and midwifery practices can and should provide an environment where all individuals are welcomed, treated with dignity and respect, and encouraged to express diverse points of view as active members of the community.

We are calling on our members to stand with us as allies and to acknowledge that we have much work to do for justice and equity.

If you are a BIPOC member who has the capacity to share your voice and lived experiences in order to further the work needed to create structural change within the profession, please consider joining the AO&E Committee.

Effective: September 18, 2020

This Statement of Solidarity & Support is a living document that will be updated periodically as we make progress and the external environment evolves. This statement was developed with reference to the Canadian Association of Midwives Anti-Oppression Statement: Health Cannot be Achieved Without Justice.

Read our Statement of Solidarity in your preferred language:

English | Statement of Solidarity & Support Black, Indigenous and People of Colour

French | Déclaration de soutien et de solidarité Noirs, Autochtones et personnes de couleur

Punjabi | ਇਕਮੁੱਠਤਾ, ਅਤੇ ਮਦਦ ਦਾ ਬਿਆਨਬਲੈਕ, ਆਦਿਵਾਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਰੰਗਦਾਰ ਲੋਕ

Simplified Chinese | 声援及支持黑人、原住民及有色族裔声明

Spanish | Declaración de Solidaridad y ApoyoPersonas negras, indígenas y de color