30, Mother, Wife
Coastal WA
Haley is a 30-year-old mother of two and a member of a tribe in the Pacific Northwest. After the birth of her daughter Vanessa two years ago, Haley suffered severe postpartum depression.
With two children under five and a new job as a payroll administrator for the Tribe, she is secure in her decision to seek an abortion. She knows she cannot take on any more responsibility.
The Wellness Center on the reservation provided counseling after Vanessa was born, but Haley knows that the Wellness Center employs several family members who are anti-choice.
She is concerned about protecting her confidentiality. She also knows her Indian Health Service (IHS) coverage will not cover the cost.
She doesn’t go to the medical clinic at all, and instead turns to one of her elders, Cheryl, who helps Haley and her husband Shane make a plan.
Together, they contact a friend Haley met through the Pow Wow circuit, who is Nisqually and lives near Olympia. They make an appointment for a medical abortion, and her friend welcomes the visit.
Shane isn’t able to get time off work, so Cheryl reaches out to her network and finds friends to take care of the kids while Haley gets to her appointment.
Resources for Haley
Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities are the primary source of reproductive health care for many Native American people living in Washington and in the US. Since the IHS receives federal funding, it is subject to the Hyde Amendment.
The Hyde Amendment, passed in 1976, bans the use of federal funds for abortion, except in extreme cases such as rape, incest, or threats to the life of the pregnant person.
The Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) Program at the IHS doesn’t cover abortion if a tribal member seeks care outside of IHS clinics.
This means that many Native people are effectively denied access to a full-spectrum of reproductive healthcare options.
Indigenous Women Rising is one organization that can provide financial help for Indigenous people seeking abortions. Fill out their online form for assistance.
Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services is another organization that provides funds to support Indigenous peoples’ living in rural Washington and neighboring states where abortion is no longer accessible.
