"The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9 every year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world’s Indigenous peoples. This day also recognizes the achievements and contributions that Indigenous people make to improve world issues, such as protecting the environment. The theme for this year is “leaving no one behind, a call for a new social contract, highlighting rights, diversity, participation and inclusion."

"PWRDF acknowledges and recognizes our many Indigenous partners, who since 1997, have carried out initiatives aimed to restore and preserve Indigenous languages, culture and traditional knowledge, as well as healing and health for women, youth programs and providing appropriate counselling on suicide prevention, and access to safe water. All these partners’ programs and projects are aimed to ensure the wellbeing for today and future generations...

"In 2017, in response to the request from Indigenous women organizations in the Americas, PWRDF funded the Indigenous Maternal Health and Midwifery Practices Program. This program is led by KINAL Antzetik from Mexico, CHIRAPAQ from Peru and RYERSON’s Aboriginal Initiatives from Canada. It has helped improve maternal health of Indigenous women in the Americas by empowering Indigenous midwives to design, develop and implement strategies and best practices.

"In 2019, these three program partners met in Mexico and Peru and tackled a common key concern – the criminalization of midwifery. In central and south America many Indigenous midwives receive fines and threats for practising. They are excluded from health systems and prevented from registering births or issuing birth certificates. This undermines the ability of local governments to respond properly to their Indigenous populations and creates more barriers for Indigenous peoples to fully participate in civil society. This is rooted directly in racist and discriminatory policies and practices of many institutions, governments and organizations.

"PWRDF honours the work accomplished by these Indigenous women organizations and it has committed to continue their collaboration, support and partnership. In keeping with this year’s theme to “leave no one behind,” the Indigenous Midwives program ensures a stronger future for Indigenous people."

Excerpted from pwrdf.org. Read the rest of Jose Zarate's article at https://pwrdf.org/this-international-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-people-pwrdf-celebrates-midwives/

More about the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples: https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day