Cheryllee Bourgeois facts for kids

Cheryllee Bourgeois is a Métis midwife and educator. A midwife is a healthcare professional who helps people during pregnancy, childbirth, and after the baby is born. Cheryllee Bourgeois is known for her important work supporting Indigenous women and families.

Early Life and Heritage

Cheryllee Bourgeois grew up in British Columbia. However, her family's traditional lands are in the Red River area of southern Manitoba. They also have ties to the Missouri River Basin in North Dakota. Being Métis means she has both Indigenous and European ancestry.

Education and Career

Cheryllee Bourgeois studied at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University). She graduated from their Midwifery program in 2007. After graduating, she worked as a midwife for more than 11 years.

Teaching Midwifery

In 2008, Cheryllee Bourgeois began teaching at Ryerson University. She started as a sessional instructor, which means she taught specific courses. By 2019, she became a full faculty member in the midwifery program. This means she is a permanent teacher and researcher there.

Founding a Birth Centre

In 2002, before she even graduated, Cheryllee Bourgeois helped start something special. She co-founded Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto with Sara Wolfe and Ellen Blais. This organization provides midwifery care, especially for Indigenous families. Today, she is the President of the Toronto Birth Centre. This centre offers a safe and welcoming place for people to give birth.

Supporting Indigenous Women

Cheryllee Bourgeois is a strong supporter of "culturally safe care" for Indigenous women during pregnancy. This means healthcare that respects and understands a person's culture, traditions, and history. It helps Indigenous women feel safe and respected when they receive medical care.

Advocating for Change

Cheryllee Bourgeois speaks out about important issues. She works to make healthcare better for Indigenous communities.

Challenging Travel Policies

She has spoken about a Canadian government policy. This policy sometimes requires pregnant Indigenous women to leave their homes. They must travel to cities to give birth. Cheryllee Bourgeois believes this policy can be harmful. She argues that women should be able to give birth closer to their communities and support systems.

Protecting Indigenous Practices

Cheryllee Bourgeois also highlights the importance of respecting Indigenous knowledge. She points out when people use ideas or practices from Indigenous midwifery without giving proper credit. She believes it is important to acknowledge where these valuable practices come from.