Resources
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(Vancouver, BC) ekw’í7tl doula collective
ekw’í7tl provides culturally relevant care to Indigenous families through the full-spectrum of pregnancy and reproductive-health related experiences, including birth, postpartum, pregnancy loss, family planning, menstruation, and abortion.
(Eastern Ontario) Minwaashin Lodge, Aunties on the Road Program.
Aunties on the Road provides full-spectrum doula support to Indigenous youth (12-30) living on traditional Algonquin and Mohawk territories in Eastern Ontario. Indigenous doulas centre traditional and spiritual practices and beliefs associated the full-spectrum of pregnancy experiences, including abortion, adoption, surrogacy, miscarriage and stillbirth, in providing emotional, physical and spiritual support to Indigenous youth.
(Saskatoon & northern Saskatchewan) Saskatoon Abortion Support Network
SASN offers Abortion Doulas who are trained to provided emotional, physical and informational support before, during and after an abortion. Abortion doulas tend to focus more on the emotional and informational support roles; however physical support can include attending an appointment, or holding your hand. Their core group of volunteers are based in Saskatoon, but they understand the lack of abortion care in rural and northern Saskatchewan requires travel to Saskatoon or Regina for abortion care so you can contact SASN even if you do not live in Saskatoon.
(Northern/midwestern Ontario) The Biidaaban Doula Collective
The Biidaaban Doula Collective is a group of Indigenous doulas who work with midwives and doctors to provide full-circle informational, emotional, physical, and spiritual support to mothers and families during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. They also provide support around the full circle of reproductive health experiences including abortion, perinatal loss, and adoption. The Biidaaban Doula Collective provide services at no cost to First Nation, Métis and Inuit women and their families who reside in the North Simcoe Muskoka region.
(Vancouver Island, BC) Nesting Doula Collective
The Nesting Doula Collective offers doula support for all stages of your pregnancy and your reproductive journey including during pregnancy loss, abortion, or other reproductive health procedures. Doulas provide a full range of support services including gathering information to make decisions, helping you determine your desires, wishes, and preferences, offering physical and emotional support, debriefing and post-procedure care. They also support you with creating ritual and ceremony as well as connecting you with the support services you may need in community.
(Atlantic Canada) Abortion Support Services Atlantic
ASSA provides non-medical support to anyone seeking abortion care in the Atlantic provinces. This may include emotional or peer support, offering rides, gas cards, arranging for a place to stay. They can coordinate with organizations to help you find funding, arrange and pay for flights. They do not perform clinical tasks, administer medication, or treat/diagnose symptoms. If anything is beyond their scope, they will refer you to a healthcare practitioner.
(Manitoba) Northern Manitoba Abortion Support
Northern Manitoba Abortion Support offers a compassionate and non-judgemental space for people having abortions in the Northern Health Region. Send us a message if you or someone you know has questions or needs an Abortion Aftercare Support Kit.
The Call Auntie Clinic, grounded in Indigenous ways of knowing and being, welcomes anyone who is looking for access to healthcare. The Call Auntie Clinic offers a variety of supports, including help with pregnancy options or answering questions if you are pregnant and not sure what to do and/or don’t want to be pregnant. They are located in Tkarōn:to (Toronto) governed by the Dish With One Spoon Treaty.
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Check out our community report from our study, Global Goal, Local Impact, a 1-year exploratory pilot with the goal of advancing knowledge around access to and experiences with culturally safe abortion services among Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people in Canada.
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Action Canada for Sexual Health & Rights Access Line
The Access Line is a 7-day a week toll-free, confidential phone and text line. Support people are available for questions about sexual health, pregnancy options, abortion, and safer sex. They provide information and make referrals to sexual health providers.
Choice Connect helps you find your nearest abortion provider based on your needs. The app features detailed referral information for more than 120 abortion providers and clinics across Canada. The web app is anonymous and free to use.
Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada
The Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada (ARCC) is the only nation-wide political pro-choice group devoted to ensuring abortion rights and access. Their diverse coalition consists of pro-choice groups and individuals across Canada working to represent all Canadian women and transgender people who support reproductive rights and justice.
Hope Air provides support for Canadians who need to travel for medical appointments, on a needs basis. They support people travelling within Canada and to the U.S. for abortion care. One of their requirements is that the procedure be covered by provincial/ territorial health insurance.
National Abortion Federation (NAF) Canada
NAF Canada promotes reproductive health among Canadians by ensuring that abortion care is accessible and carried out to the highest standards. They also provide assistance for patients with financial barriers to abortion care through the Dr. Henry Morgentaler Patient Assistance Fund.
Women’s Legal Education & Action Fund (LEAF)
LEAF’s reproductive justice advocacy focuses on ensuring that women and those facing gender-based discrimination are able to make their own decisions about their reproductive lives and have access to the resources and supports they need to be able to do so.
Knowing your Rights Toolkit: Sexual and Reproductive Health
This Toolkit was created by the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC). This resources aims to provide education that empowers First Nations, Intuit, and Métis women, girls, and gender-diverse people to “know their rights” in the context of sexual and reproductive health. This resource provides information on informed consent, patient rights, birth control options, informed choice, and filing a complaint.
DIY Doula: Self Care for Before, During, & After Your Abortion
This zine, created by The Doula Project, is all about self-care and agency. This zine is meant to act as a long-distance doula for those who may not have access to a doula in their community. Through comics, drawings, personal essays, games, and more, this zine tackles some of the tough questions, affirms that people can trust their decisions, models how to ask for support, and gives tips on self-advocacy. This zine also provides practical advice and answers FAQs!
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If you are unable to access the above article, please email the research team for a copy at fireweedproject@uvic.ca
Decolonize Abortion Care: Reproductive Justice for Indigenous Communities.
(2021). Abortion Access and Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Monchalin, R. & Paul, W.
(2020). Why the abortion pill is more important than ever during the coronavirus.
(2017). A broad vision for reproductive justice.
(2022). Self Managed Abortion in Canada Status Report.
(2022). For Indigenous Peoples, Abortion Is a Religious Right
(2022). Midwives can do more – Why won’t we let them?
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A podcast sharing abortion stories and speaking with experts and activists about the state of reproductive rights in Canada today. Hosted by Rachel Cairns. Available on most podcast streaming platforms.
An international podcast dedicated to reclaiming the ways that we talk about abortion. Hosted by Camila Ochoa Mendoza. Indigenous Abortion Support Episode: https://www.abortionwithlove.com/episodes/indigenous-abortion-support
An international podcast that seeks to normalize the conversation on safe abortions, promoting a shift in the rhetoric around abortion, and creating a community in which choice is celebrated and nurtured. Hosted by safe2choose.
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(2016). Without Apology: Writings on Abortion in Canada. Edited by Shannon Stettner. Available in paperback, e-book, and for download as a PDF.
(2017). Fired Up about Reproductive Rights. By Jane Kirby. Available in paperback, e-book, audiobook, and libraries.
(2018). Abortion: History, Politics, and Reproductive Justice after Morgentaler. Edited by Shannon Stettner, Kristin Burnett, and Travis Hay. Available in paperback, e-book, and PDF.