Members of the Heiltsuk Nation in Bella Bella, British Columbia, are rejoicing over a rare occurrence – the birth of a baby on their own land. Adding to the significance of the event, the delivering doctor was also a member of the Heiltsuk community.
The local hospital in Bella Bella, a small village of approximately 1,200 residents located about 480 kilometers northwest of Vancouver on Campbell Island, typically does not handle deliveries, prompting expectant parents to seek birthing facilities in more equipped medical centers before their due dates.
However, Nicole Johnson unexpectedly went into labor at 34 weeks on a Sunday. Due to adverse weather conditions preventing an air ambulance landing and all ferries being fully booked, the situation called for immediate action.
Dr. Don Wilson, an obstetrician-gynecologist from the Heiltsuk Nation, was called upon while on duty at Comox Valley Hospital in Comox, British Columbia. Urged by a military flight surgeon, Wilson had to swiftly prepare for the lack of specialized delivery equipment at the Bella Bella hospital.
With only 45 minutes to reach the military base, Wilson anticipated the need for a potential caesarean section and enlisted the help of his life partner, an anesthesiologist working in Comox Valley. Together, they flew to Bella Bella on a Cormorant helicopter.
The medical team at ƛ̓uxválásu̓ilas Heiltsuk Hospital, operating without a dedicated operating room, improvised in the trauma bay for the C-section procedure. Despite the challenges, the operation was successful, welcoming a healthy baby, Anthony Bennett Johnson, into the world at 1:35 a.m.
Max Johnson, Nicole’s uncle, expressed the family’s joy at having the birth take place in Bella Bella, underscoring the significance of a Heiltsuk doctor overseeing the delivery, a rare occurrence in the local hospital. He noted that this was the first Heiltsuk birth at the hospital in approximately 13 years.
Reflecting on the event, Wilson emphasized the emotional connection of Indigenous people to their lands and territories, stressing the importance of encouraging more Indigenous individuals to pursue careers in healthcare. He highlighted the need for a robust public healthcare system, especially in rural areas.
Since Anthony’s birth, there has been an outpouring of happiness and positivity in the community, marking the occasion as a healing event for both the community and the Heiltsuk Nation.