As a Native Women-led community-based organization, TWU addresses the challenges of reproductive health and justice for Indigenous women. We believe that every woman has the right to a birthing experience that promotes autonomy, dignity, respect, and empowerment for mother, child, and family.
Through our Yiya Vi Kagingdi (YVK) Doula Project, we work to increase choices in the birthing experience for the low income women of color in Northern New Mexico. Our YVK project is part of grassroots organizing and movement building work for reproductive health and birthing justice to reclaim the sacredness of the birth process and the power of choice around how, when and where birth will happen.
Tewa Women United (TWU) was started in 1989 by several Tewa women as a support group for various issues including alcoholism, suicide, and domestic and sexual abuse and assault. Our mission is to provide safe spaces for Indigenous women to uncover the power, strength and skills they possess to become positive forces for social change in their families and communities. All our activities seek to ensure effectiveness and cultural integrity, and promote lasting change by working methodically to overcome barriers and engage community partners within the TWU frameworks of The Two World Harmony Butterfly Model (balance between indigenous cultural ways of knowingness and western knowledge), and The Tewa Braiding Way of Community Engagement “Opide”, a Social Justice Practice to Action framework the builds upon an intersectional analysis.
912 Fairview Lane