In 2021 after attending my fourth birth, I decided to take a step back from accepting new clients. Also being pregnant at the time, this space allowed me to reimagine how I’d like to give birth to my second child. I spent months researching, discussing, learning and attending various training’s due to my community’s loss of traditional birth teachings.

In early summer of that year, after gathering this knowledge, my partner and his best friend built a traditional earth lodge for me to give birth in. We birthed a beautiful baby girl under rustling trees and stars on my maternal grandmother’s land. Firekeepers, singers, midwives, Indigenous doula, aunties and uncles were present. It was this experience that motivated me to return to attending births, but also sharing my story for other expectant parents to hear. After such trauma experienced with my first born, I now understand how important the environment and support team are to a birthing person. I wish to give expectant parents another view on what ‘birth’ could be, as ceremony and as community.

My time away also gave me the space to focus on my community's challenges and needs, finding different ways to connect and provide for them. I’ve initiated several projects that align with my birth work: Neetuonk Garden Project , Neetuonk Traditional Meal Train, and Paumanok Breastfeeding Coalition. Learn more about the projects and initiatives in Projects & Initiatives.