Origin Story
Breath of My Heart Birthplace (BMH) is committed to creating a sustainable community based midwifery care clinic and birth center in the Española Valley founded on the cultural strengths of Española Valley communities.
Established in 2010, the organization grew out of a community-driven strategic planning process that engaged several local midwives and over 30 community members. Using the ToP (Technology of Participation) method of facilitation, participants identified the creation of Breath of My Heart as a community solution to the health disparities and challenges experienced by families in the Valley around the time of pregnancy and birth.
The 24-month strategic planning process was facilitated by Española Valley Women’s Health, a private midwifery practice, and funded by three private foundations. The process revealed a deep desire in the community for a birth center that would create and expand access to respectful, dignified midwifery care. Community members identified how midwifery care could be used to improve health outcomes and engage women and families in healthcare delivery that builds and enhances their innate resiliency through a culturally appropriate birth model. Through the time and generosity of community stakeholders a name (Breath of My Heart Birthplace), mission, vision, and strategic plan were created during this initial community engagement process.
Vision
Our vision is the rematriation of Tribal, Acequia and land based Peoples of our homelands, with hichandi (joyous celebration) of matrilineal balance.
Midwives conceived of our communities are keepers of our Ways of Knowing for maatuin (all our relations) to birth within A’gin (respect), Sigi (love), heda Se’kaneh (and embrace of) Nan’ Ochuu Kwijo (Earth Grandmother) hee Opaa Muunu (in the Order of the Universe).
Our Haa (breath of life/our living prayer) is that our children are born rooted in safety within our spiritual, cultural and land based existence.
Purpose Statement
Breath of My Heart embodies community wellness and healing to support all families living within the Tewa basin, and provides safe and accessible birth and reproductive health services, while seeding the proliferation of Indigenous midwifery.
BMH became a 501c3 non-profit in 2015, and continues to build infrastructure and programming in-line with our community vision. To date we are working on the the development of our own licensed Birth Center facility in Española. Please check back to this page from time to time to see our progress and how you can get involved.