Jessica Johnson (she/they)
CPM, LDM
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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. She received training from multiple midwives in a busy birth center in Portland, Oregon.
After completing her training, she 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. Bringing forth life was a catalyst of 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 enrolling in midwifery school in 2016. Jessica lives with her partner and their four children in McMinnville. In her free time, she 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 the revitalization of Indigenous traditions. |
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About Sacred Salmon Community Midwifery
Sacred Salmon is 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 Indigenous values, which are well suited within midwifery care.
Sacred Salmon Community Midwifery is an Indigenous owned business and aims to uphold Indigenous values, which are well suited within midwifery care.
- Sovereignty - Supporting autonomy and nurturing individuals to make informed decisions about their bodies and healthcare.
- Community - Integrating community involvement, encouraging the presence of family, and recognizing the collective responsibility for nurturing new life. We thrive within the support of our community.
- Reciprocity - Fostering exchange and sharing of space, resources, knowledge, and of stories so that all parties benefit from shared wisdom and respect.
- Sustainability - Providing care in a way that is sustainable for our planet as well as sustainable for the midwife to continue to serve the community. Sustainability ensures that the actions taken today will benefit future generations.
- Identity - Birth is a powerful affirmation of identity and a time to honor cultural traditions and familial roots. We strive to create space for families to incorporate the personal experiences that shape their choices and provide inclusive care that honors their values and needs.
- Knowledge - Recognizing the value of generations of lived experience and wisdom and integrating it with modern medical understanding to provide holistic care.
- Responsibility - Accountability not only to the individual but to the larger collective, ensuring that our actions benefit all and contribute to the overall health and harmony of our communities.
- Humor - Humor is healing. Laughter is often seen as medicine and a way to bring balance and healing during challenging times and a way to foster connection. Even in serious moments, like childbirth, joy and humor play an important role in cultivating emotional resilience for both the birthing person and their support team.
- Harmony - Being present in the moment, in balance with the seasons of nature and within ourselves, with patience for the flow of the natural course. Holistic care nurtures not just the body, but also the mind and spirit.
- Tradition - Promoting space for families to include rituals, ceremonies, and cultural customs in the journey of pregnancy and birth, and ensuring that the birth process remains a sacred event, deeply connected to the family’s cultural heritage.
Supporting culturally matched care
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Culturally matched care in midwifery honors the unique traditions, values, and experiences of Indigenous families throughout the pregnancy and birthing journey.
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. The percentage of midwives in the United States who identify as Native American or Alaska Native is not explicitly reported in widely accessible public datasets though Native American/Alaska Native individuals likely constitute ≤1% of certified midwives in the U.S., reflecting broader healthcare workforce disparities. |
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:
The Oregon Midwifery Foundation, which funds and supports Black, Indigenous, and People of Color student midwives and new midwives in Oregon through grants, scholarships, and other initiatives aimed at promoting equity and access to midwifery care.
The Indigenous Midwifery Fund with the Foundation for the Advancement of Midwifery which supports access to home births for Native families in New Mexico, with a goal of expanding to other states, and creating a program in which midwives will provide apprenticeships to train Native midwives.
Indigenous Woman Rising is a full spectrum Indigenous- led reproductive justice organization that helps Indigenous families pay for abortion, care, menstrual care, and midwifery funding and support.
Or consider donating to the Sacred Salmon Community Birth Fund, to help offset costs for families facing income instability. Email [email protected] for information.
The Oregon Midwifery Foundation, which funds and supports Black, Indigenous, and People of Color student midwives and new midwives in Oregon through grants, scholarships, and other initiatives aimed at promoting equity and access to midwifery care.
The Indigenous Midwifery Fund with the Foundation for the Advancement of Midwifery which supports access to home births for Native families in New Mexico, with a goal of expanding to other states, and creating a program in which midwives will provide apprenticeships to train Native midwives.
Indigenous Woman Rising is a full spectrum Indigenous- led reproductive justice organization that helps Indigenous families pay for abortion, care, menstrual care, and midwifery funding and support.
Or consider donating to the Sacred Salmon Community Birth Fund, to help offset costs for families facing income instability. Email [email protected] for information.
