Birth Rites

Birth Rites documents the different experiences of Indigenous women giving birth in outback Australia and Inuit women in the icy regions of arctic Canada.

The women of Puvirnituq Canada, still remember the days when they were flown over one thousand kilometres to the hospital in Moose Factory to give birth to their babies. These days, they run their own maternity centre.

In northern and central Australia Indigenous women are still required to travel great distances to give birth and often the thought of having to leave their homes and families causes a great deal of distress. In some cases, women have been known to hide their pregnancies, arriving at the local clinic days before the baby is due, just so they won't be sent away. In turn, if the birth proves to be difficult suitable facilities are not at hand.

Birth Rites explores the gap between existing services available to Indigenous women and their ideal birthing environment. The Puvirnituq Maternity Centre provides a positive example—an alternative to what seems like a hopeless situation for the Indigenous women and their families from the Kimberley region of Australia.

The issues raised in this documentary will be of relevance for students in the middle and senior years of secondary school, as well as tertiary students studying the following subjects:
• Studies of Society and Environment
• Media Studies
• English
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Religious Studies
• Personal Development
• Language and Culture