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involuntary and coercive sterilization

Involuntary sterilization - policies and practices of the implications of eugenic thinking on Indian reservation

Operation was used for eugenic purposes. Encouraged reproduction of fit individuals. Eugenic formed policy facilitated indigenous removal and erasure. leave homeland, relinquish language, religion and custom. Erasure through cultural assimilation

Colonization had created the conditions that allowed native women and men to become caught up in these processes

“Feeblemindedness”, “female delinquency”, and “illegitimacy” were considered “urgent problems” in the reservations. The solution was sterilization without consent.

1977 Six Nations met in Look Lake, NY to discuss the meaning of sovereignty. Control of reproduction as one of sovereignty’s essential elements. Reclaim control of Native reproduction.

WARN outraged over coercive sterilization, and contract hospitals as well as challenges to native women’s procreative capacity and maternal rights.

WARN presented sovereignty — personal alongside tribal and called on women to exercize sovereignty over their own bodies

1973-76 at least 25% of Native women were sterilized by physicians

WARN argued that the removal of Indian children to foster care and the high sterilization rates were part of a planned government effort to free up reservation land for energy development

Promotion of women’s health, education, training of Native midwives, running health cliic, document sterilization abuse, and reversing the absolute dependence on the medical systems

Increased attention to the environmental degradation of reservation land. Protested water pollution, uranium mining.

Sacred Water: Standing Rock (video)