Reclaiming Birth Through Culture and Community: Carrie Cemka’s Journey Into Birthwork

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Every Scholarship Opens a New Door

Behind every scholarship is someone ready to make a difference. Through bebo mia’s doula scholarship program, students gain access to full spectrum doula training that prepares them to provide informed, compassionate care throughout fertility, birth, postpartum, and loss.

Honoring Her Roots While Building the Future

I am very grateful to be the Spring 2026 recipient of the Brood Doula Training Scholarship. Originally from Vancouver Island, I’ve lived in Calgary, Alberta for over 20 years, and am grateful to have started my family here, alongside my husband, Adam, and beautiful 10-year-old daughter, Brielle. I’m an Indigenous woman, member of the Heiltsuk Nation in Bella Bella, BC, and currently pursuing my undergraduate degree at Mount Royal University, in hopes to double major in Psychology and Indigenous Studies. Additionally, I hope to complete my masters in Social Work from the University of Calgary upon completion of my undergraduate degree.

Expanding Access to Culturally Safe Care

I applied for a scholarship with Bebo Mia in hopes to work with Indigenous families and to promote culturally safe, trauma informed care through the perinatal period. I hope to one day change the way Indigenous families can access affordable doula care across Canada. Without this scholarship, I would be unable to fund this training as I pursue my education, work towards building a business, and also volunteering with the MRU Foundation, Influence Mentoring Society, and in perinatal mental health with a local community support service.

Bebo Mia is more than just certification – it’s a community. Bebo Mia and Brood’s approach recognizes that birth and postpartum experiences are not only shaped by physiology but by social systems and access to care which align with my values. Bebo Mia promotes body and gender inclusivity, trauma-informed, culturally safe care while encouraging ongoing education to support certified Doulas continued success in operating their businesses. I value a program that prepares doulas to be both compassionate practitioners and responsible professionals.

A Philosophy Grounded in Birth Justice

Becoming a birth worker means living my goals to support families. I want to be the person I didn’t have through my own birth and rewrite the future for my families through my work as an Indigenous Birth Worker and future clinical therapist in Perinatal Mental Health. Birth is powerful. My role is not to direct birth, but to protect the conditions that allow it to unfold safely. Autonomy is sacred. Every birthing person deserves full information, genuine choice, and the right to consent or refuse without pressure. Culture is not an “extra”. Birth happens within story, land, and lineage. Cultural safety is foundational. For Indigenous families, reclaiming birth practices is part of intergenerational healing and restoring dignity in care. Birth is relational. Outcomes are shaped by the surrounding environment — including the language used, the people present, and whether the birthing person feels safe. Safety is not only physical; it is emotional and spiritual. Intervention should be purposeful. Medical care saves lives, and it also carries ripple effects. This philosophy is not about avoiding intervention, but ensuring it is appropriate, timely, and grounded in informed choice. Birth extends beyond delivery. Perinatal care continues into postpartum, and how someone is treated during birth influences mental health, bonding, identity, and family systems long after the baby arrives.

Building a Future That Supports Families for Life

Through Mount Royal University’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, I build a social enterprise, Lunvera Circle, to connect families with adequate perinatal care resources. My goal is to later expand Lunvera Circle to Lunvera Birth (encompassing my Doula services) and Lunvera Mind (perinatal mental health therapy upon completion of my university degrees).

I am very grateful to receive the Brood Doula Training Scholarship, including a paid employment opportunity following completion of my Bebo Mia training. This will allow me to strengthen my skills and further build a community in Calgary, while helping Brood expand their services in the Alberta region.

Once again, thank you for welcoming me into this wonderful community of birth workers, professionals, and those who share the same passions as me. Through cross-pollination of education, knowledge, and love, we can all improve perinatal care for families.

Education That Supports Your Goals

Every doula’s path is unique, but having the right education makes a difference. Explore our Birth Doula and full spectrum programs to see how you can begin your own journey.