“This project not only uplifts the current generation, but also ensures future generations benefit from the groundwork that we have laid for a sustainable future of birthing on our original homelands and keeping maternal and family healthcare within the Shinnecock Nation.”
Anna Cuffee, 28, is a dedicated mother and birth worker from the Shinnecock Nation of New York. After a traumatic birth experience with her first child, Anna studied to be a Full Spectrum Indigenous Doula and in 2019 she founded Wuttahminneoh Birth Work, to provide full spectrum support services to families in her community. Since founding her business, she has realized the need for more families to be able to access doula services and is inspired to create solutions for her community.
Native American and Alaskan Native women and their infants are 2-3 times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes when compared to Non-Hispanic White Women, due to a notable lack of access to pregnancy services on reservations or in rural areas, and the chronic underfunding and understaffing of Indian Health Services. Anna is passionate about providing community based and culturally responsive solutions to address these disparities and create systemic change for Native Birthing people.
The “Community Gathering Space and Relief Fund” will give Wuttahminneoh Birth Work the ability to expand its maternal and family offerings to include pregnancy, postpartum and parenthood support. By founding a communal gathering space, families will have a place to gather, receive peer support, access resources and receive health education. The Relief fund will remove financial barriers to accessing midwifery care, doula support, and provide emergency financial assistance for pregnancy related expenses. Together, these initiatives address the critical gaps seen in maternal and family healthcare in the Shinnecock Nation by focusing on improving health equity, strengthening cultural connection, revitalizing cultural practices, and empowering Tribal members.
