Return to traditional birthing practices brings joy to Bundjalung mothers, elders
Baby Yarambati Kelly-Pati is welcomed to country by elder Mildred Cameron. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)
In short:
An Aboriginal Health Service in northern New South Wales has held its first smoking ceremony for babies and toddlers.
It is part of a federally funded birthing-on-country program designed to redress inequities and maternal and child health outcomes.
What's next?
The Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service hopes to establish its own culturally safe birthing centre.
The guests of honour at a smoking ceremony on Bundjalung country in northern New South Wales may not have understood the significance of the event, but it was not lost on their parents and grandparents.
The event was a first for the Ballina-based Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service, and part of its birthing-on-country Sistabirth initiative.
Mother-of-four Relicca Kelly brought along her youngest child, Yarambati.
"It's really nice … we can get a bit of our culture back," she said.
"People are raising their voice now just to show that our culture is still there, even though the majority of it got taken away.
"It's good to have these events just to feel connected."
Elders' pride
Elder and grandmother Fay Anderson said it was special occasion, which marked a big change from the way things were when she was growing up.
Fay Anderson with one of her many grandchildren at the ceremony. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)
"It's the first time I've ever experienced this on country," she said.
"[It will mean] they will grow up knowing where they were born [and that] they come from this country."
Bullinah support coordinator Tarra Gordon said the faces of the elders lit up being around the babies and toddlers.
"It is very significant for our elders and women who didn't get to do traditional practices back when they were having babies," Ms Gordon said.
"It gives our elders hope that the next generation is going to be connected more to culture, to traditional practices, speaking more fluently in lingo."
Aged care support worker Tarra Gordon says the elders have high hopes for the next generation. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)
Systemic racism
According to 2023 data published by the federal Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, Aboriginal women are three times more likely to die in childbirth and their babies are almost twice as likely to die in their first year of life.
Birthing on country is a movement that has been gaining traction in Australia since the first national workshop was held in central Australia in 2012.
It aims to create Indigenous-led services that incorporate traditional birthing practices and cultural connection, ideally delivered by Indigenous doctors and midwives.
Sistabirth's program administrator at Bullinah, James Harrington, said his family used a birthing-on-country program in Queensland for the birth of his second child.
He said there were "light years of difference" between that "culturally-safe care" and what he experienced in the mainstream health system.
"There was better communication, better transparency and better cultural care, where I felt like we were shown respect and dignity," he said.
"With the local healthcare system or the hospitals, the community is facing challenges of systemic racism.
"It seems like an ongoing matter for a lot of families we speak to."
Jalissa Armstrong says her baby Violet will grow up proud of her culture. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)
The Sistabirth program has been funded by the federal government for a five-year period.
It is delivered by Southern Cross University in partnership with Bullinah, the Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation at Mount Gambier in South Australia, and Urapuntja Health Service north-east of Alice Springs.
Bullinah midwife Suzanne Weir and cultural advisor Deekeala Glew are among those working under the program in the Northern Rivers.
Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service midwife Suzanne Weir (left) and cultural advisor Deekeala Glew at the Sistabirth conference. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)
Ms Weir said the project would be tailored to what the community wanted.
"The women want to be heard, they want to be respected, they want a safe place to get their care and to give birth," she said.
"They are aiming high. They talk about having their own birth house, and when they walk in they feel safe straight away."
Regaining knowledge
The Sistabirth program has been running for several years at the Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation.
Aunty Michelle Jacquelin-Furr has been involved with the Pangula Mannamurna Sistabirth program in South Australia. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)
Michelle Jacquelin-Furr said she spent weeks in the Adelaide Museum to acquire some knowledge to pass on to the young women going through the program.
"I think a lot of these women feel like they are getting some cultural advice," she said.
"I tell stories of my great Aunty Annie, I bring my possum skin cloak in, I get the seasonal calendar out and talk about what it was like for the Boandik women birthing.
"So it's just that cultural connection, and about bringing those things back into their journey."
Babies and toddlers were welcomed at a smoking ceremony. (ABC North Coast: Hannah Ross)