doula

*Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre of Winnipeg, Inc.*

*\* JOB POSTING \**

*Position: *URBAN INDIGENOUS DOULA (Auntie Program)

*Department: Urban Indigenous Research Lodge*

*Site:* Aboriginal Health & Wellness Centre of Winnipeg, Inc. (AHWC) in the Neeginan Centre

*Address:* 181 Higgins Avenue

*Reports to: *Director of Research

*Status:* 1.0 FTE (Full-Time)

*Hours of Work*: Monday - Friday (occasional evenings or weekends as required)

*Union: *Term Contract Position (non-union)

*Salary: *$45,375 annually ($22.914/hr)

*Date: *One-year term from start of training (Jan 19, 2025)

*JOB OVERVIEW*

The Urban Indigenous Doula provides continuous emotional, physical, informational, and spiritual support to individuals and families before, during, and after childbirth. Guided by the teachings of the Auntie Program, this role walks alongside families, not to lead or direct, but to enhance their experience with presence, advocacy, comfort, and cultural grounding.

Doulas do not provide medical care or keep medical records. Their work honors pregnancy and birth as sacred, relational, and spiritually meaningful, supporting families to feel safe, informed, respected, and empowered throughout their reproductive journey.

This role reflects AHWC?s commitment to culturally grounded, trauma-informed, and community-led care, supporting First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and 2SLGBTQPIA families in reclaiming birth sovereignty, ceremony, and connection to traditional teachings.

This position includes:

* completing the 3-month Urban Indigenous Doula (_Auntie Program) _Training
* offering prenatal support
* providing continuous labour and birth support
* offering postpartum care and home visits
* supporting families with cultural, spiritual, and community-based practices

*RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES*

*Training & Learning*

· Completes the 12-week Indigenous Doula Training, followed by mentorship and ongoing capacity-building.

· Integrates teachings, ethics, ceremony, and AHWC practices into daily work.

· Completes AHWC onboarding, including PHIA training, confidentiality, documentation, and home-visiting safety training.

· Participates in reflective practice, supervision, and feedback circles.

1. *PRENATAL SUPPORT*

· Builds trusting, caring relationships grounded in confidentiality, safety, and cultural humility.

· Provides emotional reassurance, grounded presence, and culturally safe guidance.

· Supports birth and postpartum plan creation, respecting identity, lived experience, and cultural/spiritual preferences.

· Offers information and advocacy related to pregnancy, body literacy, medical procedures, comfort measures, and system navigation.

· Supports families in exploring their hopes, fears, strengths, and decision-making.

· Provides transportation or accompaniment to prenatal appointments as needed.

· Helps families prepare their home for baby?s arrival and identify supports.

2. *LABOUR & BIRTH SUPPORT*

· Provides continuous emotional, physical, spiritual, and informational support throughout labour.

· Uses a range of comfort measures: movement, massage, counter-pressure, breathing, hydrotherapy, visualization, and ?combo techniques.?

· Upholds cultural teachings and ceremony during birth as requested (e.g., medicines, songs, water teachings, language).

· Advocates for the birthing person?s choices, rights, and autonomy, supporting informed decision-making and communication with providers.

· Uses an anti-oppressive/anti-racist lens and trauma-informed approach to support safety, dignity, and empowerment.

· Works collaboratively with AHWC Leadership and staff, as well as partners, family members, midwives, nurses, and physicians.

3. *POSTPARTUM SUPPORT*

· Provides home visits in alignment with AHWC protocols (consent, safety, boundaries, documentation), until end of term contract.

· Offers emotional reassurance, grounded presence, and culturally safe support during the transition to parenting.

· Supports infant