Chihiro Ebara

Chihiro Ebara

they/them
Location: Victoria
Focus: Birth and Postpartum Doula
Language: English, Japanese

My name is 知優 Chihiro (they/them), and I am a birth and postpartum doula offering services on the territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. I grew up in 群馬県 Gunma-ken, Japan and have been on these territories for 7 years now as an uninvited guest. I have been working in the field of care/support work in varying capacities for over 4 years and have extensive background in anti-violence work, working in prevention and the frontlines responding to sexual assault. 

I centre my practice within the values that were offered to me through my name; 知 chi- wisdom and 優 -hiro kindness, where the meanings come from kanji (Chinese characters) that were chosen for me by my mother. With my background in community-based and person-centred work, my practice is also deeply rooted in values of harm reduction and trauma-informed care. It is important to me that you feel empowered and cared for in who you are and with your decisions. I am your support and advocate!

Remembering my own mother's pregnancy and birth back home and experiencing the Western medical system here myself as a person with multiple intersecting identities has led me into the field of birth work with the hopes that I can bring in feelings of home to people's life journeys and transition periods. Home to me means shared foods, rituals and cultural practices, laughter, cries, vulnerability, trust, and all other emotions that accompany being human. I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunities to nourish the community in ways I can and to continue my involvement and growth as a fellow community member.

Anita Cheung