Native America Calling: Confronting forced sterilization of Native women

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Native America Calling: Confronting forced sterilization of Native women

Thursday, March 12, 2026

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Confronting a past of forced sterilization

New Mexico is taking on an investigation into the sterilization of Native American women through coercion, deception, or by merely carrying out procedures entirely without consent.

The state is mainly looking at time in the 1970s following the establishment of the federal Office of Population Affairs and a policy change that increased reimbursements for outside doctors contracting with Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities for each procedure. Native Americans were included in groups targeted for sterilizations because of the false impression they were less intelligent and that they were not as productive members of society as other groups.

In 10 years, Native American birth rates were more than halved. Other states and Canada have broached the topic of forced sterilization that tried to formalize racist policies in the name of public health.

New Mexico is the first to take aim at the role IHS clinics played in carrying out the policies.

A pamphlet produced by the predecessor agency to the Department of Health and Human Services encouraged Native women to bear less children. Image: U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare

Guests on Native America Calling

Elena Giacci (Diné), historical trauma trainer and anti-sexual violence advocate, member of New Mexico Office of Family Representation and Advocacy Oversight Commission

Josett Monette (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians), cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department

Jean Whitehorse (Diné)