A recent study delves into how Indigenous individuals subjected to coerced or forced sterilization can explore future options for conceiving. The research, conducted by the University of Ottawa Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics and the Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice, details the pathways, expenses, and challenges for survivors seeking to regain fertility.
The outlined possibilities encompass procedures such as tubal ligation reversal, in vitro fertilization (IVF), surrogacy, and egg donation. Harmony Redsky, the executive director of the Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice, expressed that this presents an unprecedented opportunity for many who never envisioned such a choice.
Redsky, hailing from Wasauksing First Nation in Ontario, emphasized that this marks just the initial phase of enabling survivors to build families post coerced or forced sterilization experiences. She highlighted that significant hurdles persist, including limited service access and the discomfort Indigenous individuals encounter when seeking such services.
The introduction of a bill by Métis Senator Yvonne Boyer, aimed at criminalizing non-consensual sterilization, is anticipated to advance progress in addressing this issue. Katy Bear, a survivor of coerced sterilization two decades ago who recently welcomed a baby girl, played a pivotal role in shaping the report’s insights.
Recommendations from the report advocate for patient advocacy roles, a directory of fertility restoration specialists, and the establishment of culturally sensitive guidelines for care providers. Bear disclosed that she is currently supporting five women from the Survivors Circle aspiring to have children again, underscoring the emotional and psychological complexities involved in navigating the aftermath of governmental actions.
Moreover, survivors often lack vital information about their circumstances, with some unaware of what they have endured, as revealed by Bear’s personal experience. Difficulties in accessing care information and receiving services in remote areas further compound the challenges faced by survivors. Additionally, the financial burden of reversal procedures poses a significant obstacle to many affected individuals.
To address these multifaceted issues, the Survivors Circle operates a Healing Support Fund, offering financial assistance for reproductive technologies like IVF and counseling services. Vanessa Gruben, a University of Ottawa professor and one of the report’s authors, stressed the importance of leveraging the findings to drive evidence-based policy changes and improve healthcare systems.
Recognizing the grim historical backdrop of Indigenous interactions with the healthcare system, Redsky emphasized the urgent need for enhancing cultural safety within assisted reproductive technology services across Canada. Bear urged individuals to engage with their local representatives to garner support for the proposed bill criminalizing forced sterilization.
