PURPOSE:
Purpose: Ten years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) issued a series of Calls to Action for governments and institutions to address the historic and ongoing harms of colonialism to the First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada. Many of the calls focus on education and health. Ten years later is a time of reflection and accountability for how governments and institutions have responded to the inequities facing Indigenous peoples. This presentation represents our reflections on how our Inuit-led midwifery service embodies the Calls to Action and provides a model for how governments, institutions and communities can move forward on reconciliation by reclaiming Indigenous birth.

DISCUSSION:
Discussion: Our service brought birth back to our remote Inuit communities by re-establishing Inuit midwifery and providing midwifery education in our communities. Our service is recognized as a model for providing safe care in remote communities and for Indigenous-led midwifery care. Both qualitative and quantitative research provide evidence of our success and sustainability and yet many remote and Indigenous communities wanting to bring birth back face resistance. In this presentation we use the Calls to Action of the TRC to frame the policy arguments for ending evacuation for birth. We demonstrate ways governments and communities can meet recommendations 2 (Education), 14 and 16 (Language) and 18 -24 (Health) by bringing birth and midwifery back to Indigenous communities. In summary, our service aims to address historic and current causes of health inequity; improve outcomes by providing accessible, local care and education in Inuktitut; supports including Elders and Indigenous health practices and by expands the pool of Inuit health care providers.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
see above

KEY MESSAGE:
Returning birth to small communities supports governments and institutions to meet calls to address the harms of colonialism in Indigenous communities. Marginalized - indigenous