Explore Indigenous health and wellness with Dr. Karen Lawford and KFPL

Oct 06, 2021

How can our communities work toward equitable healthcare access for all? Join KFPL and Dr. Karen Lawford for a timely, engaging online discussion on Indigenous health and wellness, and what accessible healthcare means for our society.

Dr. Lawford is an Assistant Professor in Gender Studies at Queen's University, specializing in gender inclusive sexual reproductive health for Indigenous Peoples. She is an Aboriginal midwife, from Namegosibiing, Lac Seul First Nation, and a registered midwife in Ontario.

During the talk, attendees will learn about barriers to healthcare access experienced by Indigenous communities and Dr. Lawson's experience as an Aboriginal midwife.

“Equitable access to healthcare is essential for a healthy society, especially when it comes to accessing maternity care,” said Jake Miller, Programming and Outreach Librarian. “Dr. Lawford's research in identifying healthcare barriers is pivotal to providing an equal standard of healthcare to Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations.”

Dr. Lawford is the first registered midwife and Aboriginal midwife in Canada to obtain a doctoral degree and hold a university appointment, and was the 2020 Indspire Laureate in Health for her research and policy work on mandatory evacuation for birth. She is a founding member of the National Aboriginal Council of Midwives.

Dr. Lawford’s Zoom-based talk is happening October 15 at 3 p.m. Participants can register online at

http://calendar.kfpl.ca/event/5606553, or call their KFPL local branch.