Advocates hope a new national registry will reveal extent of Indigenous sterilization

Forced and coerced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada is a deeply troubling issue that has long been overlooked. Advocates are now working towards creating a national registry to shed light on the extent of this practice, which involves sterilizing Indigenous women without proper or informed consent.

Kahsenniyo Kick, a member of the Survivor Circle for Reproductive Justice, shared her personal experience of being coerced into sterilization at a hospital when she was in her teens. This traumatic event left her with feelings of shame and guilt, highlighting the need for proper consent and awareness of reproductive rights.

The Survivor Circle for Reproductive Justice, formed in 2023, aims to support survivors and advocate for reproductive justice for all Indigenous women across Canada. The organization launched a national registry in November to connect with survivors and gather data on forced sterilization cases.

Steven Cooper, an Indigenous law specialist based in Edmonton, emphasized the importance of survivors speaking out to reveal the true extent of forced sterilization. While the national registry may improve knowledge of the issue, Cooper noted that forced sterilizations often go unreported or unrecognized by survivors.

In the Northwest Territories, Cooper represented a Tuktoyaktuk woman in a forced sterilization case a few years ago, but believes there are more cases that have not come to light. He stressed the power of survivors coming forward to create a sense of community and strength in numbers.

As part of the national registry initiative, Indigenous sterilization survivors can also apply for a healing fund to cover expenses such as grief counselling, therapy, or reproductive technology. This fund aims to provide support and resources for survivors as they navigate the long-lasting impacts of forced sterilization.

Overall, advocates are hopeful that the national registry will bring much-needed attention to the issue of forced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada and pave the way for justice, healing, and awareness in the future.