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Native American Health Archives - Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies: the Montana Coalition

May 30
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Family Care Spaces Across Montana

By Breastfeeding, Community, Indigineous Maternal Health

By Diona Buck, Native American Initiatives Program Coordinator

Photos contributed by MOMS and local Indigenous BirthWorkers

 

A Family Care Space is a space where mothers, parents, and families can come to feed their babies, change their baby’s diaper, and receive educational materials, and most importantly connect with local BirthWorkers. While the concept of Family Care Spaces at public events is not the first of its kind, the meaning of this movement for Tribal Communities in Montana lies in something deeper: the reclamation of Indigenous traditional ways.

 

Families attending cultural or public events often have to navigate the unique challenges like feeding their infants, changing diapers, or simply finding a quiet private area to care for their young children. Often times we see parents leaving events to go change or feed their babies in their cars, making these tasks harder than they should be. These needs, though common, are rarely addressed in event planning.

 

Family Care Spaces across Montana were developed not just to meet these needs, but to do so in a way that honored and recentered Indigenous Traditional Knowledge around the sacredness of birthing, parenting, and raising the next generations. These spaces are a reminder that as Indigenous people, we once surrounded birthing people with ceremony, care, and collective support. Parenting was not meant to be done in isolation but in community. It takes a village to raise a child.

 

A total of nine Family Care Space Kits, each equipped with a canopy tent with sidewalls, a portable diaper changing table, and a table and chairs, were funded through the Montana Obstetrics and Maternal Support (MOMS) program. These kits were distributed to six Tribal and three Urban Indian Communities across Montana to support the creation of Family Care Spaces into their communities. Since 2024, at least a dozen Family Care Spaces have been set up at local events and gatherings to support families.

 

Today, Indigenous doulas, lactation consultants, and maternal health champions are leading the way, working with community organizers to integrate these spaces into powwows, health fairs, and cultural gatherings. Key maternal health champions include Tribal Health programs, Public Health Nursing programs and Urban Indian organizations who recognize the importance of providing these spaces as a community. Family Care Space kits are stored with local organizations that have taken the initiative to lead this effort in their communities. But this work is not done alone. At its core, this initiative is about community collaboration, bringing together BirthWorkers, families, Elders, health departments, and event organizers to uplift and care for our families.

 

HMHB Native American Initiatives is able to continue supporting the Family Care Space initiative. Vital to this work is Diona Buck, who is Nakoda from the Fort Belknap Indian Community and a descendant of the Aaniiih Tribe and currently serves as the Native American Initiatives Program Coordinator. In her role at HMHB, Diona continues to uplift and expand Family Care Spaces across Montana by connecting with Indigenous BirthWorkers and maternal health champions and guiding communities in creating these spaces.

The Family Care Space Toolkit was developed in January 2024 by Diona Buck. If you or your organization are interested in bringing a Family Care Space to your next event or would like to collaborate, we encourage you to reach out to Diona at diona@hmhb-mt.org. We would be honored to connect you with local maternal health champions and support you in creating a space that reflects and uplifts your community.

 

May 09
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The Growing Movement of Indigenous Birthworkers in Montana

By Birth, Caregiving, Native American Initiatives, Native Cultural Connections

Written by Chelsea Bellon

Photos courtesy of Julianne Denny

 

In many Indigenous communities, birth is more than a medical event—it is a sacred ceremony, deeply rooted in tradition, community, and ancestral knowledge. While the term “Doula” is widely recognized today, its origins are tied to Western frameworks that may not fully capture the depth of Indigenous birthing practices. Long before Western society formalized the role of Doulas, Indigenous families, Elders, and community members played an essential part in supporting birth as a ceremony.

Today, many Indigenous communities use the terms Birthworker and Doula interchangeably, reflecting both historical traditions and contemporary roles. Birthworkers provide non-medical support before, during, and after childbirth, offering emotional, spiritual, and physical care. Birthworkers provide information around perinatal education, community resources, and advocacy support. Many consider this work a calling—”heart work” that centers ceremony and connection, creating a meaningful and supported start for both parents and baby.

Strengthening Indigenous Birthwork in Montana

Since the introduction of the Indigenous Full Spectrum Doula training to Montana’s Tribal communities in 2022, the movement of Indigenous Birthworkers has gained remarkable momentum. Trainings held across reservations have supported more than 80 Birthworkers, empowering those in both rural and urban communities throughout the state. Following training efforts supported by the Montana Obstetrics & Maternal Support (MOMS) program, newly trained Birthworkers sought continued education, mentorship, and community. In response, the Native American Initiatives (NAI) Program with Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies – Montana (HMHB-MT) cultivated a space for growth, connection, and collaboration.

Through monthly gatherings, Birthworkers from across Montana have built a network to share successes, navigate challenges, and learn from one another. Under the leadership of NAI Program Director, Amy Stiffarm, the group has welcomed guest speakers and educators to help Birthworkers develop their skills and expand their impact.

  • Kendra Potter, a Birth Doula and Trainer from Missoula, has provided mentorship on balancing birthwork with family life and other job responsibilities.
  • Tina Begay of Redtail Accounting has shared insights on marketing, networking, and business growth for Birthworkers.
  • Diona Buck, representing the MOMS Program provided guidance and resources for Indigenous Birthworkers to engage and support families and elders in their communities. The Family Care Space initiative was formed to provide supplies for communities to create a breastfeeding and respite space for events such as pow wows, basketball games, health fairs, celebrations, and more. The Family Care space was intended to be led by the local Indigenous Birthworkers; 15 Family Care Spaces were sent out to rural and urban communities across Montana.
  • Most recently, the group welcomed Glenda Abbot, founder of the Indigenous Birth Justice Network in Canada, which now extends into Washington State. She introduced valuable perspectives on land-based birthing practices and the role of Birthworkers in community healing and revitalization.

Join the Indigenous Birthworker Network

The Indigneous Birthworker Network of Montana continues to grow, providing a space for Indigenous Birthworkers, past Doula training participants, and advocates to connect with a supportive community, access valuable resources, receive mentorship and advocacy to strengthen skills and expand culturally centered care. The Indigenous Birthworker Network of Montana fosters collaboration, ensuring Indigenous Birthworkers are recognized, supported and uplifted in their roles. The group meets every third Thursday of the month from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM and welcomes those who are passionate about supporting Indigenous birthwork in Montana.

For more information or to join the meetings, contact Chelsea Bellon at chelsea@hmhb-mt.org.

Together, this network is strengthening the path for Indigenous Birthworkers, ensuring that birth remains a ceremony and community-centered care continues to thrive for future generations.

To find Doulas and Birthworkers near you, use the category “Doulas and Other Birth Professionals” on LIFTS!

linking infants and families to supports