Life and Contribution of the Midwife
Katsi Cook was born on January 4, 1952, in the Mohawk Tribe of St. Regis. Her father was a World War II and Korean War pilot, and he died in a plane crash when she was nine months old. Her mother grew up in Quebec and was educated by Catholic nuns; she also passed away early, her daughter was only eleven. For the rest of her childhood, Katsi lived with her grandmother, a midwife who helped with the birth process of many babies in Akwesasne. Cook was educated at a Catholic boarding school, though as a teenager, she began practicing the traditional religion of the longhouse. She attended Skidmore College and then transferred to Dartmouth as part of the school’s first female class (Follet, 2005). Katsi decided to become a midwife after attending the inspiring Six Nations Loon Lake Conference.
Cook completed an internship in spiritual midwifery on a farm in Tennessee, followed by a clinical fellowship at the University of New Mexico’s Women’s Health Program. She was struck by women’s lack of knowledge about reproduction and birthing traditions and recognized this loss of self-knowledge and cultural traditions as a consequence of colonization. This realization, combined with the community’s concern for sterilization of indigenous women, led Katsi to reassert childbirth as a critical factor in the healing and survival of the community. She made a substantial contribution to the process of empowerment through which women revitalized original culture. One of her most remarkable aidings is research in environmental degradation and maternal and fetal health. In subsequent investigations, Cook’s reservations have acted as a bridge between the community, scientists, and government officials. Her historical background contributes to the peculiarities of a midwife career (Follet, 2005). Katsi has helped to understand the necessity to empower women and promote policies oriented to prevent cycles of violence in society.
Influencing Factors
An essential and the first sociological factor that inspired the heroine were the conversations of uncles. While still a child, she heard discussions about power and encroachment on the land belonging to the tribe. At the same time, she attended a clan meeting with her uncle, who headed it. Thus, feelings of social influence and political injustice caused the formation of women’s opinions. Life in the tribe, which honored its traditions and legends about the struggle for rights, had a significant impact on the development of Katsi’s worldview (Follet, 2005). Additionally, political conferences on sovereignty motivated her contest for the medical rights of tribal women, primarily to ensure proper conditions for children’s birth.
It is valuable to note that cultural factors such as language and religion have affected Katsi Cook. The woman was able to learn the basics of nursing and midwifery because she knew the native language of the tribe and English. Many other inhabitants of her local society did not have such opportunities. The pernicious cultural habits of the tribe, which led to HIV, had a high impact on the formation of Katsi ideas. Thus, considering cultural, social, and political factors, the woman was determined to help renew cultural integrity. Moreover, many other midwives share the view that the government should pay attention to childbearing. Nonetheless, each tribe must have at least one midwife to control women’s health (Follet, 2005). That is, these social, political, and cultural factors are relevant to future generations of obstetricians and have a meaningful influence on the choice of this profession.
Valuable Lessons
Katsi Cook is a faithful leader who practices midwifery to reestablish social integrity and attain environmental fairness through women’s empowerment. Her speeches and guidance can be regarded as a real inspiration to future midwives. Above all, it is worth learning from her leadership skills and a commitment to continuous and uninterrupted education. In order to be successful in a career, it is necessary to constantly practice and gain new knowledge. One of the lessons that Katsi is trying to show us is environmental importance (Follet, 2005). It should be remembered that reproductive health and pollution are not parallel systems; they are connected. Consequently, it is necessary to limit the influence of negative factors on a woman and her unborn child. It is essential to monitor the future mother’s health regularly and make all necessary appointments to maintain it in an excellent condition.
Katsi’s example inspires me to explore the well-being difficulties of local people. Thus, it will serve to identify problems that need to be addressed urgently. Furthermore, sacrifice and the desire to help women in childbirth is a fundamental feature of our profession (Follet, 2005). I hope to be as dedicated to working in the health care system as Katsi, and my contribution to women’s reproductive care will be significant. It is also valuable for me to make an attempt to create a global mechanism for caring for women’s procreative health. Therefore, I would like to continue Katsi’s work in cooperation with government agencies to implement comprehensive assistance to various tribes. In the future, I hope to establish organizations that will also be responsible for raising public awareness of women’s health and the birth process. Moreover, I believe that my colleagues will support this idea, and we will now be capable of conducting gynecological consultations for poor people. It can be the first step towards access to obstetrics for everyone.
Reference
Follet, J. (2005). Voices of feminism oral history project: Katsi Cook. Sophia Smith Collection.