Aaniin, my name is Brianna Olson Pitawanakwat and I am an Indigenous Birthworker and member of Wiikwemikong Unceded First Nation. It has been an honor to join the Ode’imin Giizis Doula Collective and the Baby Bundle project since moving Toronto a few years ago.

I appreciate many things about helping but one of the most profound opportunities was entering the area of Birth work years ago while I lived in amiskwaciwaskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta). It was over a decade ago I began as a perinatal outreach worker in the inner city and eventually became a full spectrum doula. Honoring our Indigenous knowledge in birthing can be a liberating and healing practice. My own great, great, Grandmother we called Nokomis Gchi’mama, was a midwife in our community of Wiikwemkoong and our family often refer to her wisdom, kindness and Love as important values that are being passed on in current Indigenous birthwork practices.

Gchiimiigwechendam, I am thankful for the Baby Bundle Team, the SGMT Midwives and the opportunity to work out of the wonderful space at the Toronto Birth Centre.