Lesley Paulette, a longtime advocate for Northwest Territories midwives, was appointed to the Order of Canada on Wednesday.
Paulette has dedicated her life to making midwifery services accessible. She began advocating on behalf of midwives in 1987, when no such service was available in Fort Smith. Two years prior to that, she had been required to travel to Edmonton to give birth to her oldest son.
After that experience, she told Cabin Radio on Wednesday, she became determined that “some day we would have midwifery care available here in Fort Smith and other northern communities.”
The NWT’s Midwifery Profession Act came into force in 2005 and Paulette played a key role in making that happen. At the time, Paulette and Gisela Becker were among the first to help midwifery get started in the North.
In 2017, Paulette joined the Department of Health and Social Services as a senior midwifery consultant.
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Though midwives have made some progress, Paulette said recognition of the profession continues to encounter hurdles. This year, midwives protested in Yellowknife and Fort Smith against proposed GNWT funding cuts affecting positions across several communities.
“Almost 40 years later, it is kind-of ironic and a little sad that I find there is still a long way to go in expanding midwifery in the North,” she said, “and making it accessible and available to women in all communities, which it what it should be.
“It’s the one thing I seem to have been destined to do for the rest of my life. But that’s OK. I accept that responsibility.”
The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honours.
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“Lesley has been and continues to be instrumental to the integration of midwifery into the health and social services system in the NWT,” said Heather Heinrichs, a board member of the territory’s midwives’ association for the past decade.
“She has helped guide me through challenging situations both in my role as a clinician and as a leader. I can’t count the ways that she has supported the profession of midwifery, midwives, and midwifery clients over the years,” said Heinrichs.
“She’s left a lasting impact on many families across the NWT and even Canada. This award is extremely well deserved.”
Paulette said the “great honour” of induction into the Order of Canada was a surprise, and she does not know who nominated her.
“I am happy to accept it on behalf of all midwives across the country,” she said, “particularly Indigenous midwives who are really working hard to increase access to good care for the women and families in their communities.”
