Elaine Kicknosway
Elaine Kicknosway (qwe/she/her /traditional helper) is Swampy Cree through her biological mother from Amisk Lake and her biological father from Buffalo Narrows in Saskatchewan. She is a member of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Northern Saskatchewan and is Wolf Clan. She is a Sixties Scoop Survivor and returned home in 1996. She is a long time community advocate in the areas of child welfare, MMIW2SG, healthy families, and Indigenous Wellness. Elaine is an Indigenous trauma informed Counsellor, an Ontario wedding officiant, a blanket exercise facilitator and trainer, an Indigenous full spectrum doula, an Indigenous Death Doula , Traditional dancer, singer, drummer and is the cofounder of The Sixties Scoop Network and carrier of ceremonial teachings.
Find more from Elaine here: @creegrl & sixtiesscoopnetwork.org.
Gina Louttit
Gina is currently not taking new clients.
Gina Louttit is a proud Swampy Cree woman from Attawapiskat First Nation. She is a daughter, sister, mother, and auntie within her family and community. Gina is currently finishing her B.A in Health Psychology with a Minor in Indigenous Studies. Gina is dedicated to mental health and well-being. Her hobbies include drumming, singing, cooking, traveling, and learning.
Gina joined the Aunties on the Road collective in May 2022. Gina is a postpartum care doula. She provides one-on-one emotional support, respite services, preparing meals, light house cleaning, transportation to and from appointments, etc. Gina truly believes providing support and services to women during their postpartum period improves their mental health and well-being.
Gina is an exceptional young woman who cares deeply about her community and relationships she has with others.
Tagwanibisan Amitage-Smith
Shuffling-Bear clan and a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinaabeg, Tagwanibisan is a biracial Algonquin-Mohawk woman with her maternal grandmother having immigrated from North County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
With a deep respect and belief in 'Orenda', Tagwanibisan became fascinated with birth and the human's ability to bring life on earth. Tagwanibisan believes that each human being is a continuation of all that came before and all that will come after, and that birth, parenting and family life is the most sacred (and challenging) of all callings.
Tagwanibisan joined the Aunties on the Road Collective in September of 2022, with her work focusing mainly on birth education and preparation; postpartum support, placenta keepings and cesarean aftercare.
Tagwanibisan is a fierce advocate for Spinning Babies labour techniques and is labour and postpartum Certified with Doula Canada, and is also a certified Baby-wearing instructor. She is currently taking fertility training with hopes to add Lactation Consultant to her growing Birth-Worker bundle.
A mother, a wife, a kitchen enthusiast and a trained amateur herbalist, Tagwanibisan enjoys rural bush living and wild food foraging and craft.
Find more from Tagwanibisan here: @creatorswomb @tagwanibiisan
Sabrina Jones-Monette
Sabrina is a Métis parent of 3 and Kokom of 5 baby boys. She was born and raised in the Sudbury, Ontario Region. Sabrina participated in an Aunties on the Road Doula Training in 2018 and has been working part-time as an Indigenous Full Spectrum Doula, supporting young people in Ottawa since then.
Sabrina had her first baby at 16 and understands what it can be like to be a young person navigating reproductive rights within the medical system and hopes to provide support to any individual on their journey to making the best choices for themselves whatever that might look like.
Sabrina has experience supporting clients with terminations, c section aftercare, as well as general postpartum support, including caring for baby so parents can complete self-care, such as napping and showering.
Aunty J
Aunty J is a Community Knowledge Keeper, trainer, facilitator and long time advocate.
Aunty J offers doula support, mentorship support, and works as a midwifery outreach community organizer.
Melanie Brunet
Becoming a doula is not only a calling, it is a privilege. Coming from a long line of Indigenous Matriarchal medicine women and midwives, I have embodied the facts that Birth is a Ceremony and Parenthood is a rite of passage.
Being a Mother myself of 11 children, I have a unique and profound understanding of the care, compassion and strength that is required, based on the needs of every individual mother/baby dyad. It is always different! To bear witness during your moments of vulnerability and to hold space while you dig for strength that you could never have imagined as you love your new little being more than your own self, is the most beautiful journey for me to be a part of.
Prior to becoming a birth and postpartum doula I obtained two other diplomas and worked in several other sectors. I was a psw in mental health for 16 years and a community service worker. Working for the community, advocating and finding proper resources were some of the many services that I provided. Working to serve others has always been a part of who I am.
Perhaps you have heard the phrase “ it takes a village to care for parents and child”. I would love to be a part of your village.
Jackie Tompalski
Hi, I am Jackie (she/her/they/them). My roots are Sahtu Dene – descending from Ft. Good Hope First Nation – and European. I am proudly queer and neurodivergent. I lived most of my life in Treaty 6 territory but moved to what is known as Ottawa to complete my masters degree. Originally, I saw myself working in the criminal justice system however, when it became clear that I could not provide the supports needed by the people I was working with, I switched my focus away the justice system. I fell in love with the importance of care and community, which lead me to becoming a doula. Additionally, I have been able to focus my Ph.D. research towards highlighting the importance of community and cultural care.
In my spare time, you can catch me doing all types of art, playing video games, organizing in the community, and hanging out with my cats and foster cats! I am also a huge sports fan, especially loving hockey (Oilers), baseball (Giants), football (Saints), and Formula 1.
I am currently offering the following services within my practice:
Client care: abortion support (transportation, emotional, resources/planning, etc.), pregnancy support, birth plan creation, labour and birth, postpartum support and respite. My practice is queer-inclusive, trans-inclusive, and practices harm reduction.
Education: (can be fit into one or more standard classroom periods): secondary school level sex and consent education, secondary school level transformative justice education.
Specialization in criminal justice system, probation, parole & statutory release, community alternatives to incarceration, alternative and transformative justice, addictions, harm reduction and evidence-based practice.
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