IMAC statement on reproductive choice and reproductive justice

This statement was endorsed by the Indigenous Midwifery Advisory Circle (IMAC) in April 2025, intended to complement and accompany the AOM's position statement on midwifery-led abortion and reproductive justice.

Reproductive choice is a fundamental human right that must be respected and upheld for all individuals, particularly for Indigenous communities, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis (FNIM) women and people in Canada. Historical injustices and systemic discrimination have severely impacted Indigenous, including FNIM communities, often limiting access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare and education. Indigenous women and people have the right to make informed choices about their bodies, health, and futures free from coercion and discrimination. This includes access to culturally safe healthcare services, contraception, prenatal and postnatal care, and abortion services.

The Indigenous Midwifery Advisory Circle (IMAC) of the Association of Ontario Midwives affirms the AOM’s stance on the right for comprehensive and timely sexual and reproductive healthcare for all, including contraception, family planning, counselling, and abortion care. Abortion care is an integral part of healthcare services for women, trans, Two-Spirit, non-binary, and gender-diverse people across the span of their reproductive life cycle.

The AOM Indigenous Midwifery Advisory Circle acknowledges the unique socio-economic challenges faced by Indigenous people, including FNIM communities, and the significant repercussions of barriers to accessing reproductive health services which negatively impact individual and community health and well-being—locally, nationally, and globally. It is essential that reproductive health services, including abortion care, are delivered in a manner that respects and incorporates Indigenous ways of knowing, including FNIM cultural beliefs and practices. Culturally informed care can vary significantly among different Indigenous communities, where midwifery, traditional healing methods, spiritual beliefs, and governance systems are unique to each community and their territories. This care may or may not include abortion services, depending on the beliefs and traditions upheld by each community.

Despite abortion care being recognized as an essential service under the Canada Health Act, significant gaps persist in delivering this care in a timely, culturally safe, and holistic way for Indigenous peoples. Barriers such as geographic isolation, limited health resources, and mistreatment often hinder access, especially for Indigenous individuals, including those from FNIM communities, as well as those from LGBTQ2S+ communities, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Echoing the World Health Organization’s (WHO) statement that “lack of access to safe, timely, affordable, and respectful abortion care is a critical public health and human rights issue,” the AOM and the AOM Indigenous Midwifery Advisory Circle call for a concerted effort to dismantle these barriers and ensure that Indigenous populations receive the timely, respectful, and culturally safe care they deserve. Midwifery practices rooted in Indigenous knowledge, including First Nations, Inuit and Metis knowledge, can provide holistic care that honors the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of individuals and families. By prioritizing traditional healing practices, we can create a supportive environment that empowers Indigenous people, including FNIM women and people, to make choices aligned with their cultural values.

As we strive for equity and justice, we must listen to and uplift Indigenous, including FNIM, women and people, supporting their autonomy and rights. It is imperative that we work together to create a society where all individuals can exercise their reproductive rights without fear, stigma, or limitation.