Jessica Johnson (she/they)
CPM, LDM
Jessica is a NARM Certified Professional Midwife and a Licensed Direct Entry Midwife in the state of Oregon. She graduated from Birthingway College of Midwifery in 2022. Jessica received training from multiple midwives in a busy birth center.
After completing her training, Jessica continued to work for various birth centers and homebirth midwifery practices alike, further honing her skills and experience. In Yup’ik culture, becoming a healer within the community is a calling that can be answered by the individual as they see fit. Jessica felt called into midwifery care and birthwork with the birth of her first child in 2009. The birth of her first child was a point of great growth and healing in her life — a calling to provide the same supportive care she received. She then began a long journey of self study, before finally enrolling in midwifery school in 2016. Jessica lives with her partner and their four children in McMinnville. In her free time, Jessica enjoys exploring the wonders of the Pacific Northwest, foraging, gardening, sewing, reading, gaming, and engaging in various nerdy activities. She is Yup’ik Alaska Native, a member of the Village of Solomon, and is passionate about Indigenous issues. Jessica’s blend of professional expertise, personal experience, and cultural background brings a unique and holistic perspective to her midwifery practice, ensuring personalized and empathetic care for every family she supports. |
About Sacred Salmon Community Midwifery
Sacred Salmon was established in 2024. Nestled in the heart of the traditional homelands of the Yamhill Kalapuya people, in McMinnville, Oregon and serving Yamhill County and the surrounding areas.
Sacred Salmon Community Midwifery is an Indigenous owned business and aims to uphold values, which are well suited within midwifery care.
Sacred Salmon Community Midwifery is an Indigenous owned business and aims to uphold values, which are well suited within midwifery care.
- Sovereignty/Autonomy - Supporting autonomy in ourselves, in our families. making the choices that are right for ourselves. The right to self-determination is fundamental in Indigenous cultures and is equally central to midwifery care. By empowering birthing individuals to make informed decisions about their bodies and birth plans, midwifery honors the sovereignty of families. This reflects Indigenous values of autonomy, where each person’s journey is respected as their own.
- Community - We are not singular. We thrive in the support of our community. In birth, not just a baby is born, but a parent, a family. Other family members are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate in care. A place for all members of the family, children included. In many Indigenous traditions, birth is seen as a community event where family and extended support systems play a crucial role. Midwifery care integrates community involvement, encouraging the presence of family and recognizing the collective responsibility for nurturing new life. This approach reflects the interconnectedness that Indigenous cultures emphasize, strengthening bonds across generations.
- Reciprocity - sharing of space, resources, knowledge, of stories. Giving makes you richer. We care for others. Indigenous communities are built on the principle of reciprocity—giving and receiving in balance. In midwifery, this translates to a relationship of mutual care and trust. Midwives provide compassionate care, and in return, the community supports and honors their role. This exchange fosters a healing environment where both parties benefit from shared wisdom and respect.
- Sustainability - practicing in a way that is sustainable for our planet as well as in a way that is sustainable for the midwife to continue to serve the community. Sustainability is a core Indigenous value, ensuring that the actions taken today will benefit future generations. Midwifery practices aligned with sustainability focus on natural birth processes, reducing unnecessary interventions, and using eco-friendly resources. This ensures that the care provided not only supports the health of the birthing family but also respects the earth, preserving it for future generations.
- Respect - Show respect to others, ourselves, to nature. Each being has a special gift. In Indigenous cultures, respect is extended to all living beings, recognizing the inherent dignity of each person and their connection to the land and their ancestors. Midwifery care rooted in respect honors the unique cultural and spiritual beliefs of each family, ensuring that their traditions and choices are upheld throughout the birthing process.
- Identity - Know who you are. Connection to identity to help heal generational trauma, support self worth, and belonging. Encourage cultural practices. Birth is a powerful affirmation of identity in many Indigenous cultures, a time to honor cultural traditions and familial roots. Midwifery supports this by creating space for families to incorporate their customs, languages, and spiritual practices into the birth experience. This helps protect and celebrate cultural identity, ensuring it continues to thrive through future generations.
- Knowledge - Indigenous knowledge systems are based on generations of lived experience and wisdom. Midwifery recognizes the value of this ancestral knowledge, integrating it with modern medical understanding to provide holistic care. By educating families about both traditional and contemporary approaches to childbirth, midwives empower clients to make choices that are informed by a wide spectrum of knowledge.
- Responsibility - We are responsible to each other and ourselves. We express ourselves through our actions and take accountability of the actions we take. The concept of responsibility in Indigenous cultures is deeply tied to caring for the community and the environment. Midwives embrace this responsibility by providing safe, ethical care, being mindful of both the physical and emotional well-being of the families they serve. They are accountable not only to the individual but to the larger community, ensuring that their actions benefit all.
- Humor - Connects us to ourselves and our peers. Humor is healing. Laughter is often seen as medicine in Indigenous traditions, a way to bring balance and healing during challenging times. Midwifery recognizes the importance of joy and humor, even in serious moments like childbirth. Humor can reduce stress, ease tension, and create a more relaxed environment, fostering emotional resilience for both the birthing person and their support team.
- Cooperation, collectivism, harmony - within ourselves, our community, and with nature. Being present in the moment, in harmony with the seasons of nature and n within ourselves, patience with the flow of the natural course. Focus on the present. Indigenous cultures prioritize living in harmony with nature, self, and community. In midwifery, this value is reflected in holistic care that nurtures not just the body, but also the mind and spirit. By promoting balance in the birthing process, midwifery aims to create a peaceful and aligned experience for both the parent and the child.
- Tradition - A place of cultural safety to practice our traditions. Traditional knowledge and practices are often passed down through generations in Indigenous cultures. Midwifery honors this by allowing space for families to include rituals, ceremonies, or cultural customs in their birthing journey. Respecting these traditions ensures that the birth process remains a sacred event, deeply connected to the family’s cultural heritage.
Supporting culturally matched care
Culturally matched care in midwifery honors the unique traditions, values, and experiences of Indigenous families throughout the pregnancy and birthing journey. By aligning care with the cultural practices and spiritual beliefs of the birthing person, midwives create a space that respects and uplifts their identity. This approach recognizes the importance of integrating traditional knowledge, ceremonies, and community support, fostering a deep sense of trust, autonomy, and well-being. Culturally matched care ensures that Indigenous families receive care that not only meets their physical needs but also affirms their cultural heritage, strengthening bonds across generations.
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Midwifery providers and midwifery client numbers (race and ethnicity)
If you would like to help support Indigenous midwives, student midwives, and birth workers, consider donating to organizations that help increase access to Indigenous practitioners, such as:
Oregon Midwifery Foundation
oregonmidwiferyfoundation.org/donate/
Center for Indigenous Midwifery (in WA), etc.
If you would like to help support Indigenous midwives, student midwives, and birth workers, consider donating to organizations that help increase access to Indigenous practitioners, such as:
Oregon Midwifery Foundation
oregonmidwiferyfoundation.org/donate/
Center for Indigenous Midwifery (in WA), etc.