In early March 2026, I travelled to our Arctic colleagues and partners at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research in Yellowknife (NWT, Canada) to participate in a workshop.
The Circumpolar Maternal and Child Health workshop was titled “Values and Components of Holistic Birthing Across the Circumpolar North.” The aim was to articulate the values that support locally grounded, Indigenous, and community-led birthing and maternal-child care across the Arctic; to identify and describe the core components of holistic birthing practices; and to strengthen knowledge sharing among midwives, Elders, knowledge holders, practitioners, and researchers across the regions.
The participants represented Sápmi in Norway, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland), and the Arctic regions of Canada and Alaska.
It has been two wonderful and inspiring days, where I had the opportunity to listen to stories of both personal and professional experiences. All of them highlighted the importance of providing culturally grounded and safe midwifery services close to people’s home communities.
