Skaniehtiiohstha Montour, CLC
As a mother of three, I found my passion for birth work through my own experiences while birthing my children. Though each was a unique experience, from orgasmic to traumatic, I found that birth can be pleasurable and empowering. I hope to hold space for women finding their own empowering experiences, whether it be in birth or learning alternatives to pads and tampons.
I love being able to provide a nutritious postpartum meal to a new family (or a growing one!) such as bone broth soups to support postpartum healing. I also enjoy making ginger smoothies to ease prenatal nausea. As a Certified Lactation Counsellor, I provide evidence-based breastfeeding counselling and support.
Contact
email: skasokeo@aodoulas.org
Shirelle Jacobs
I am a Full-Spectrum Doula with a passion for our rights of passage through puberty, birth, and menopause. I keep an open mind when providing education, support in pregnancy, labor and postpartum.
My personal skills come with years of experience as a mother and a massage therapist. I carry with me traditional knowledge, songs and birthing rituals that bring beauty to the birthing experience. I am excited to help you with your birth plan!
Contact:
Tsiotenhariio Herne
Giving birth is a life changing event in a woman’s life. As an Indigenous doula, I see my role as being a protector of the birth space and making sure that no woman has to go through it alone. Birth can be an empowering, calm, peaceful, and powerful experience for both mother and baby. I have always been passionate about being a woman and our natural ability to bring life into the world. Ever since I can remember my own birth story was shared with me by my mom and Katsi Cook a practicing midwife at the time who delivered me at home. By the time I was seven, I literally could see see my ancient grandmothers birthing in cornfields. I believe that if we change the narrative around birth then we can change how women experience birth. I entered birth work because we women and children are so important and we deserve experiences we can look back on and say how amazing it was. Every woman deserves to menstruate inside the beauty of her blood, birth, breastfeed, and go through life as a natural course in her life feeling comfortable and safe. Women need to feel respected and be in an environment where they can make informed decisions about their own bodies. I truly believe every woman needs, a kind hand to help, and a support system that they can trust. My mission is to offer my knowledge, experiences, unbiased, non-judgement support during these amazing transformations.
Contact:
Alicia Herne
A little about full spectrum doula, Alicia(Allie) Herne was raised in Akwesasne, Kawehnoke. Allie has
5 children of her own. 4 of them birthed with the assistance of midwives. One of them assisted with a doula!
Allie always says, "if I knew about doulas for the first 4 I definitely would have had one!"
Allie has her own experiences and many friends and family she has helped throughout
pregnancies as well as taking a Full Spectrum doula training course in 2017.
Contact:
Brooke Francis
I entered birth work to help bring confidence and empowerment to women through birth. I believe new life and new mothers deserve to be welcomed with trust, respect, freedom, and power. My goal is to remind women of their natural ability and strength to move through the unpredictability of birth with confidence and grace.
Every woman deserves to feel safe, informed, and respected throughout the entire child bearing process. I believe birth can be peaceful and beautiful. My goal is to help women connect to the proper resources within themselves as well as in the world.
Birth SHOULD make you feel liberated. Birth SHOULD make you feel powerful. Birth SHOULD be healing. I believe with proper guidance we can tap into our innate ability as women and change the stigma of traumatic births.
Kyra Thompson
Shekon, I am a full spectrum doula with lots of love for all things pregnancy, birth, and post partum. I want to empower our Indigenous women and help create a safe space. There is so much beauty in birth,women and motherhood. I'm an ista to one beautiful little boy. I'm currently a nurse at our community clinic here in Akwesasne and I'm taking some courses to further my education. Im working on becoming a certified lactation counselor and can't wait to provide breastfeeding support to new Istas. I want our indigenous women to know they are loved, respected and important. No matter what your birth plan is I want to support you. My instagram inbox is always open msg me anytime! @kyraaa17
Email: kthompson@aodoulas.org
Madison White
Email: mwhite@aodoulas.org
Madison is the oldest sibling to her fourteen younger siblings and a mother to her five year old son. She is a certified full spectrum doula as of 2017 and has been assisting in birth plans, prenatal care, labor, and post partum support her entire life as an akhtsia, auntie, cousin, and friend.
Madison adds,
“having experienced my parents’ fourteen different pregnancies and labors for my siblings, when it came time for me to have my own child… there werent any books, classes, or words that could prepare me. Instead, what helped me with my first all natural birth, was my support system who guided me and took care of me during that vulnerable and sacred time.
Not all births are the same, and the mother needs to be protected and nurtured during that ceremony. That is why I love doula work!
The entrance into this world is such a beautiful moment to be a part of and it’s such an honour to be able to provide and care for new mothers and new babies in the same way I was, by my support system.”
It take a village to raise a child, and it takes a baby to unite a community!
Kalli Delormier
Kwe Kwe,
I am a Full-Spectrum Indigenous Doula and mother of three from Ahkwesáhsne. I understand that birth is a sacred event in a woman's life and my role is to honour and protect the mother's journey, ensuring she is safe, heard and protected. Women as such strong beings and we are capable of anything they set their minds to! I would offer emotional and physical support during our time together. Every woman should feel empowered during their birth, it really is a beautiful moment.