Knowledge Resources & Publications

ISBN (Print) :978-1-77368-303-4 | ISBN (Online) :978-1-77368-302-7

NCCIH

Informed Choice and Consent in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Women’s Health Services

February 2021

This summary report, Informed Choice and Consent in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Women’s Health Services, focuses on a knowledge exchange forum that was held on January 28-29, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario.

Convened by the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health, in collaboration with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Indigenous Services Canada, the forum brought together over 100 participants from across Canada, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women’s organizations, Indigenous and non-Indigenous health professional associations, health authorities and regulatory bodies, schools of medicine, nursing and social work, midwives, advocacy and human rights organizations, researchers, and federal, provincial, and territorial government employees.

The forum examined the current realities and future directions for informed choice and consent in Indigenous women and girls’ reproductive health services. Specifically, the gathering:

  • Acknowledged the act of coerced or forced sterilization of First Nations, Inuit and Métis women and girls in Canada;

  • Explored concepts of informed choice, informed consent, and culturally safe practice for First Nations, Inuit and Métis women and girls’ reproductive health;

  • Discussed guidelines and key messages for ensuring informed choice and consent in First Nations, Inuit and Métis women and girls’ health services, and;

  • Sought to identify concrete actions for stopping coerced or forced sterilization, address injustices, support healing and implement strategies that focus on First Nations, Inuit and Métis women and girls’ agency over their bodies.

The report provides a brief description of the meeting, including: 1) keynote and panel presentations, 2) facilitated table discussions, and 3) concrete actions identified by participants to stop coerced or forced sterilization, address injustices and support healing, and prevent it from happening going forward.

Read the report (PDF)