Bibia Nàtsät, which provides pre- and post-natal support for Indigenous families, is a finalist for the Arctic Inspiration Prize A program run by the Council of Yukon First Nations is up to win $1 million as part of the 2025 Arctic Inspiration Prize. Bibia Nàtsät (Strong Babies) is a program that is dedicated to providing pre- and post-natal supports for First Nations and Indigenous families in the territory, said Shadelle Chambers, the executive director of the Council of Yukon First Nations. She said the program is operated by CYFN’s family preservation service department. Bibia Nàtsät has been running for around two years, said Chambers. She said the program currently provides everything from social support to transportation to medical system navigation to over 200 families across the territory. They help families develop birth plans, and integrate traditional birthing and post-natal practices where desired. “The reality is, due to the impacts of colonization, many of our traditional practices went underground,” said Chambers. “We’re in a phase of revitalization right now and empowering our communities and our families to know their birth rights and birth sovereignty,” said Chambers. She defined birth sovereignty as being the ability to make one’s own decisions about how they want to give birth. The program is now a finalist for the $1 million category of the Arctic Inspiration Prize. The winners will be announced at the Arctic Inspiration Prize ceremony in Ottawa in May. The money would help to hasten the program’s next goal: a physical, welcoming place to call home: Bibia Nàtsät Ku (Strong Babies House). Right now the program is being run out of the CYFN’s offices, but a dedicated and culturally-relevant space would be ideal, said Chambers. She said the home would offer a place for families from outside of Whitehorse to stay while in the city for healthcare, as opposed to having to stay at a hotel. She said the home would also offer day programming and supports and services for families. Chambers said that CYFN will work towards that goal regardless of whether they win the award — but that the award would make it a lot easier. “We’ve got 100 feelers out there right now,” said Chambers. “There’s not a dedicated funding source for Indigenous midwifery, which is a big gap.” Chambers said down the line, CYFN wants to be able to provide an Indigenous-led midwifery clinic. “One day we’ll be running a clinic out of here where people can go, you know, get their prenatal appointments and medical checks, maybe blood, blood pressure, maybe even an ultrasound,” she said. She said they’ve already trained a large group of Yukon First Nations birth workers, who are equivalent to doulas. Chambers said there’s lots of evidence showing the current healthcare system is deeply entrenched with racism and discrimination. “So, we know when families have access to more culturally appropriate services, which provide wraparound support and services and help navigating the medical and hospital systems, so that there’s better outcomes for families,” she said. “Really, having a program that is led by Yukon First Nations, delivered by Yukon First Nations, for First Nations families, is really our goal.” Contact Talar Stockton at talar.stockton@yukon-news.com
CYFN program for expecting families up for $1-million award
