Sarah Tomkins | University of Waterloo, Canada (original) (raw)

Articles by Sarah Tomkins

Research paper thumbnail of Study Yourself: Pivotal Guidance that Reshaped my Graduate Research in Indigenous Maternal Health

Turtle Island Journal of Indigenous Health, 2023

Personal reflections and key insights on instrumental guidance received from an Indigenous adviso... more Personal reflections and key insights on instrumental guidance received from an Indigenous advisory consultant that significantly redefined a qualitative thesis research project in anthropology graduate studies on Indigenous maternal health in Canada.

Research paper thumbnail of Meaningful Positioning: Insights on the Importance of Culturally Safe, Anti-Racist Settler-Indigenous Relationships in Supporting Indigenous Maternal Health in Canada

International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2024

Indigenous women and birthing parents in Canada disproportionately face mistreatment in their mat... more Indigenous women and birthing parents in Canada disproportionately face mistreatment in their maternal health care expe-Indigenous maternal health riences due to systemic anti-Indigenous racism, ongoing harmful Midwifery and doula care impacts of settler colonialism, and power differentials inherent in Canadian settler colonialism many health care relationships. Indigenous midwives and doulas Reclamation are important leaders in resisting these conditions and reclaim-Culturally safe care ing traditional Indigenous birth knowledge and practices. Ulti-Anti-racism mately, they work to uphold Indigenous self-determination and Truth and Reconciliation Com-sovereignty. Grounded in an understanding of historical and curmission rent challenges regarding Indigenous maternal health, this qualitative study explored how best to situate oneself as a settler researcher and maternal health practitioner to support Indigenous maternal health in a culturally safe, anti-racist manner. In this article, key insights are shared from semi-structured interviews conducted with five prominent Indigenous scholars, midwives and community leaders. These consultants emphasized the central importance of intentional relationships in advancing the reclamation of traditional birth practices and providing culturally safe care, along with the indispensability of Indigenous midwives and doulas in these processes. Consultants also stressed the critical need for increased numbers of, and accessibility to, Indigenous practitioners in communities across the country. Settler practitioners are urged to understand the historical and contemporary impacts of settler colonialism, and the significance of building culturally safe, anti-racist relationships with their Indigenous colleagues and clients.

Papers by Sarah Tomkins

Research paper thumbnail of Meaningful Positioning

International journal of indigenous health, Mar 17, 2024

Indigenous women and birthing parents in Canada disproportionately face mistreatment in their mat... more Indigenous women and birthing parents in Canada disproportionately face mistreatment in their maternal health care expe-Indigenous maternal health riences due to systemic anti-Indigenous racism, ongoing harmful Midwifery and doula care impacts of settler colonialism, and power differentials inherent in Canadian settler colonialism many health care relationships. Indigenous midwives and doulas Reclamation are important leaders in resisting these conditions and reclaim-Culturally safe care ing traditional Indigenous birth knowledge and practices. Ulti-Anti-racism mately, they work to uphold Indigenous self-determination and Truth and Reconciliation Com-sovereignty. Grounded in an understanding of historical and curmission rent challenges regarding Indigenous maternal health, this qualitative study explored how best to situate oneself as a settler researcher and maternal health practitioner to support Indigenous maternal health in a culturally safe, anti-racist manner. In this article, key insights are shared from semi-structured interviews conducted with five prominent Indigenous scholars, midwives and community leaders. These consultants emphasized the central importance of intentional relationships in advancing the reclamation of traditional birth practices and providing culturally safe care, along with the indispensability of Indigenous midwives and doulas in these processes. Consultants also stressed the critical need for increased numbers of, and accessibility to, Indigenous practitioners in communities across the country. Settler practitioners are urged to understand the historical and contemporary impacts of settler colonialism, and the significance of building culturally safe, anti-racist relationships with their Indigenous colleagues and clients.

Research paper thumbnail of Study Yourself: Pivotal Guidance that Reshaped my Graduate Research in Indigenous Maternal Health

Turtle Island Journal of Indigenous Health, 2023

Personal reflections and key insights on instrumental guidance received from an Indigenous adviso... more Personal reflections and key insights on instrumental guidance received from an Indigenous advisory consultant that significantly redefined a qualitative thesis research project in anthropology graduate studies on Indigenous maternal health in Canada.

Research paper thumbnail of Meaningful Positioning: Insights on the Importance of Culturally Safe, Anti-Racist Settler-Indigenous Relationships in Supporting Indigenous Maternal Health in Canada

International Journal of Indigenous Health, 2024

Indigenous women and birthing parents in Canada disproportionately face mistreatment in their mat... more Indigenous women and birthing parents in Canada disproportionately face mistreatment in their maternal health care expe-Indigenous maternal health riences due to systemic anti-Indigenous racism, ongoing harmful Midwifery and doula care impacts of settler colonialism, and power differentials inherent in Canadian settler colonialism many health care relationships. Indigenous midwives and doulas Reclamation are important leaders in resisting these conditions and reclaim-Culturally safe care ing traditional Indigenous birth knowledge and practices. Ulti-Anti-racism mately, they work to uphold Indigenous self-determination and Truth and Reconciliation Com-sovereignty. Grounded in an understanding of historical and curmission rent challenges regarding Indigenous maternal health, this qualitative study explored how best to situate oneself as a settler researcher and maternal health practitioner to support Indigenous maternal health in a culturally safe, anti-racist manner. In this article, key insights are shared from semi-structured interviews conducted with five prominent Indigenous scholars, midwives and community leaders. These consultants emphasized the central importance of intentional relationships in advancing the reclamation of traditional birth practices and providing culturally safe care, along with the indispensability of Indigenous midwives and doulas in these processes. Consultants also stressed the critical need for increased numbers of, and accessibility to, Indigenous practitioners in communities across the country. Settler practitioners are urged to understand the historical and contemporary impacts of settler colonialism, and the significance of building culturally safe, anti-racist relationships with their Indigenous colleagues and clients.

Research paper thumbnail of Meaningful Positioning

International journal of indigenous health, Mar 17, 2024

Indigenous women and birthing parents in Canada disproportionately face mistreatment in their mat... more Indigenous women and birthing parents in Canada disproportionately face mistreatment in their maternal health care expe-Indigenous maternal health riences due to systemic anti-Indigenous racism, ongoing harmful Midwifery and doula care impacts of settler colonialism, and power differentials inherent in Canadian settler colonialism many health care relationships. Indigenous midwives and doulas Reclamation are important leaders in resisting these conditions and reclaim-Culturally safe care ing traditional Indigenous birth knowledge and practices. Ulti-Anti-racism mately, they work to uphold Indigenous self-determination and Truth and Reconciliation Com-sovereignty. Grounded in an understanding of historical and curmission rent challenges regarding Indigenous maternal health, this qualitative study explored how best to situate oneself as a settler researcher and maternal health practitioner to support Indigenous maternal health in a culturally safe, anti-racist manner. In this article, key insights are shared from semi-structured interviews conducted with five prominent Indigenous scholars, midwives and community leaders. These consultants emphasized the central importance of intentional relationships in advancing the reclamation of traditional birth practices and providing culturally safe care, along with the indispensability of Indigenous midwives and doulas in these processes. Consultants also stressed the critical need for increased numbers of, and accessibility to, Indigenous practitioners in communities across the country. Settler practitioners are urged to understand the historical and contemporary impacts of settler colonialism, and the significance of building culturally safe, anti-racist relationships with their Indigenous colleagues and clients.