In a remarkable display of strength and resilience, a Native American woman named Adeline Little Feather gave birth to her sixth child last month at the Standing Rock protest camp, where numerous individuals have gathered to oppose the Dakota Access Pipeline. Her birth story highlights her unwavering commitment to both her family and the cause she champions.
The Dakota Access Pipeline project, valued at $3.7 billion, poses significant risks to Native lands and water resources. Activists have raised concerns about potential destruction of burial sites, prayer locations, and culturally important artifacts, asserting that the pipeline threatens their heritage. The protests in North Dakota have persisted for many months as activists aim to halt the pipeline’s construction, which would stretch from the oil-rich Bakken Formation into South Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois.
On October 12, Adeline, known as the Water Woman, welcomed a baby girl in her family’s tipi at the camp. She chose the name Asha Wíiyaka, meaning “life is water,” a name deeply resonant with her tribe’s mission. Adeline shared, “I brought her into the world by myself,” emphasizing that, in Lakota tradition, women often give birth alone. Although her husband and family were close by, she experienced the moment of Asha’s birth independently. “The space we create for birth is sacred. Our people understood that once.”
All of Adeline’s other children—ages three, six, eight, eleven, and thirteen—were born at home with midwives present, but Asha’s arrival marked a significant departure from tradition as she was the first child born without assistance. Adeline expressed, “Bringing forth life is my act of defiance; our reproductive rights as Native women have faced oppression in various forms. We have endured forced sterilizations and severe assimilation pressures.”
Throughout the protests, Adeline has focused on her children and their education rather than participating directly in the demonstrations on the front lines. She wanted her children to experience life at the camp and to witness the important ceremonies taking place. While she kept her pregnancy relatively private due to cultural beliefs about safeguarding new life, she sought guidance from her sisters—one a midwife and the other a doula—in preparation for the birth. She performed her own prenatal care, tracking her baby’s heart rate with a fetal scope and conducting a blood screen during her pregnancy.
Despite encouragement from tribal EMTs to deliver at a hospital, Adeline was resolute in her decision. “I will give birth where I choose. It’s not for anyone else to dictate my choices.” She kept a walkie-talkie nearby for reassurance but ultimately decided to turn it off during the birth. “In the end, they respected my wishes. I didn’t want a lot of people around me feeling anxious.”
Adeline is passionate about the concept of home birth and believes that midwifery should not be a paid profession. “We need to change the perception that this knowledge requires payment; it is wisdom that belongs to all women. Native women have become disconnected from our bodies and roles due to a mainstream culture rife with patriarchy and toxic masculinity. We have healing to do before we can educate our children on health.”
Asha’s birth, significant in its own right, also carries deeper meaning as Adeline had anticipated a boy. “I was convinced I was having a son, so her arrival as a girl is incredibly meaningful.” Following Lakota tradition, Asha’s placenta was buried at the camp, symbolizing her connection to her heritage. “She will understand her roots and that she is supported by strong women who surround her. I could feel their powerful spirits with us when she was born.”
For further insights into home insemination and preparation for pregnancy, you can explore this excellent resource on artificial insemination. Additionally, if you’re considering self insemination, check out this informative guide on artificial insemination kits.
In summary, Adeline Little Feather’s birth story at Standing Rock exemplifies the strength of Native women and their deep-rooted connection to their culture and resistance movements. Her commitment to home birth and the empowerment of future generations is a powerful testament to the ongoing struggle for reproductive rights within Indigenous communities.