Indigenous women resisting colonial policies, practices and reproductive coercion

This analysis of urban Indigenous women’s experiences on the homelands of the Métis and Treaty One (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), Treaty Four (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) and Treaty Six (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) territories illustrated that Indigenous women have recently experienced coercion when interacting with healthcare and social service providers in various settings. Drawing on analysis of media, study conversations and policies, this collaborative, action-oriented project with 32 women and two-spirit collaborators demonstrated a pattern of healthcare and other service providers subjecting Indigenous women to coercive practices related to tubal ligation, long-term contraceptives and abortion. We foreground techniques Indigenous women use to assert their rights within contexts of reproductive coercion, including acts of refusal, negotiation and sharing community knowledge. By recognizing how colonial relations shape Indigenous women’s experiences, decision makers and service providers can take action to transform institutional cultures so Indigenous women can navigate their reproductive decision-making with safety and dignity.