Illustration of 2 Native women supporting a third woman holding a baby she has just birthed

Birthworker Training

Alaska Native Birthworkers Indigenous Birthworker Trainings

Through our training and connection opportunities for Indigenous birthworkers, we seek to improve access to culturally-matched care for Native families in Alaska by building upon the existing knowledge and wisdom of Alaska Native peoples.

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The Three Sisters Model

ANBC approaches its work according to a three sisters model where each sister focuses on a specific layer of support for a holistic approach to sovereignty from first breath.

First Sister provides free direct and indirect services to Native birthing families in Alaska.

Second Sister is growing a cohort of trained Indigenous birthworkers to serve Native birthing families in Alaska.

Third Sister supports systemic change for improved maternal health outcomes and positive birthing experiences for Native birthing families in Alaska.

Second Sister Birthworker Training

Our Second Sister work offers free access to birthworker training for current or aspiring Indigenous birthworkers. We support trainings that are developed by and for Indigenous communities, and have been honored to offer the folllowing opportunities:

Full Spectrum Indigenous Doula Training with Zaagi'idiwin in Anchorage in 2021
Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor Training with Camie Goldhammer and Kimberley Moore-Salas in Anchorage in 2021
Indigenous Childbirth Educator Training with Center for Indigenous Midwifery in Anchorage in 2022
Indigenous Birth Support Gathering with local birthworkers in Sitnasuaq / Nome in 2023
Indigenous Birth Helper Training in Anchorage in 2024

To learn more about how to access these trainings, please subscribe to our newsletter, where we share information about all of our opportunities.

Virtual Gathering

On the first Wednesday of each month we are hosting a virtual gathering for Indigenous birthworkers to connect, network, share and learn from one another, debrief experiences, and create a communal space for us to grow in practice and community with one another. View our upcoming events on our Events page.