Indigenous Community

Milk medicine healing the past, present, and future

Azin- to nurse

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Nawadanjige- he/she latches on

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Azin- to nurse 〰️ Nawadanjige- he/she latches on 〰️

Milk Medicine is here to stay

Since time immemorial, lactation, or milk medicine, has been a normal parenting and postpartum practice within Indigenous communities across present day North America. It is in the last 500 years that this practice began to see disruption of family structures that greatly impacted birthing practices, lactation and parenting due to colonization.

Today there is an Indigenous Breastfeeding Coalition of Minnesota to promote milk medicine practices in the state. There are also many Indigenous educators, peer counselors, and families collectively working to normalize and reintroduce milk medicine. In Minnesota alone, there are over 11 Native nations and several organizations reclaiming Indigenous milk medicine knowledge and practices for Indigenous communities.

Milk Medicine is Ancestral

For generations, the blood memory of milk medicine has lived within our bodies. Our ancestors practiced milk medicine and created supportive care for a baby to be nourished.
Breastpin courtesy of Valerie Zhawendaagozikwe
Milk Medicine is Love

Indigenous milk medicine releases oxytocin during lactation. Oxytocin boosts feelings of joy, happiness, and love.
Photo courtesy of NeDahness, Greene Photography
Milk Medicine is Healing

Indigenous milk medicine is restoring longtime connections and healing relationships between lactating parents, babies, families, and the community.
Milk Medicine is Reclaiming

Indigenous milk medicine builds a connection from the previous generations to the next. Lactation builds a sacred bond of this lineage between the lactating parent and baby that lasts a lifetime.
Photo courtesy of NeDahness, Greene Photography
Milk Medicine is Sacred

Indigenous milk medicine promotes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness for both the lactating parent and the baby.
Photo courtesty of the Walker-Swaney family.
Milk Medicine is Prevention

Indigenous milk medicine reduces the risk of chronic health conditions for the lactating parent such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, and postpartum depression. It also reduces the risk of chronic health conditions for baby including reduce risk of diabetes, frequent ear infections, colds, and some childhood cancers.
Milk Medicine is Healthy

Milk medicine builds immunity, a healthy microbiome, and a healthy digestive system for baby. This is immunity that continues to grow throughout baby’s lifetime.
Photo courtesy of NeDahness, Greene Photography
Milk Medicine is Community

Indigenous milk medicine is a healing practice that restores familial structures and models of community support.
Photo courtesy of NeDahness, Greene Photography
Milk Medicine is Food Sovereignty

Indigenous milk is ancestral food. Lactating is practicing a long time tradition of food sovereignty by way of baby’s first food, human milk.
Photo courtesy of NeDahness, Greene Photography

Indigenous Breastfeeding Coalition of Minnesota

A coalition of Indigenous lactavists and passionate breastfeeding educators in Minnesota. The goals of the coalition are to:

(1) Develop a community survey to guide us on how to best support Native moms in their breastfeeding journey

(2) Promote the importance of breastfeeding for mothers and babies

(3) Normalize breastfeeding in our communities

(4) Be active coalition members by doing community outreach and building support networks

Contact Co-leader Shashana Craft, shashana.craft@gmail.com

Contact Co-leader Takayla Lightfield, ligh0044@umn.edu

Indigenous Milk Medicine work in Minnesota

Division of Indian Work

A Native non-profit based in Minneapolis, DIW offers programs to support Indigenous pregnant and lactating families. Ninde doulas, the Family Spirit program, Women of Traditional Birthing, and the Nadagikenim program are all services provided through the Division of Indian Work.
Visit the website to learn more.
Mewinzha Ondaadiziiike Wiigaming

Long ago, women birthing, in a birthing lodge/home/hospital.
A Native non-profit based in Bemidji provides Anishinaabe-led maternal health, child health, and family wellness to the community of northern Minnesota. Services include clinic and doulas.
Visit website to learn more.
Nitamising Gimashkikinaan

An Indigenous nonprofit dedicated to Native/Indigenous pregnant and lactating people, doulas, and supporters. Nitamising hosts an Indigenous Perinatal & Lactation Support circle every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month 4-6 PM CST via Zoom (sometimes in-person). During this time we openly and confidentially learn about pregnancy, lactation, and parenting from each other and/or special guest speakers. Email nitamising.gimashkikinaan@gmail.com to have one our team members share about our work or to learn more.
Visit Facebook Group
Bois Forte Band of Chippewa Maternal Child Health/New Lives

New Lives/MCH programs provide home visits to support positive Lifestyles and improved pregnancy outcomes through the coordination of holistic health services. New Lives/MCH programs provide home visits and holistic health services. Native American families, prenatal through age 8, living on or near Bois Forte reservation are program eligible.
Visit website to learn more
Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Doula Program

Doula support is offered for pregnancy, birth and beyond in Fond du Lac. Doulas are trained through DONA and have specialized training in peer breastfeeding support. Fond du Lac also has a local WIC program and other support services in the community.
Visit website to learn more
Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa WIC Program

Serving the families of the Grand Portage Band of Chippewa through the Women, Infants, and Children Program. For pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding families in Grand Portage.
Call (218) 475-2235 for more info
Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe WIC Program

WIC provides nutrition education and health assessments for infants birth to 1 year of age and children from 1 year of age to their 5th birthday. For pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women in Leech Lake. LLBO also has a Family Spirit program and many programs in Early Childhood Development.
Visit website for more info
Lower Sioux Indian Community Family Spirit Program

The Lower Sioux Family Spirit Home Visiting Program promotes maternal and early child health in Lower Sioux. Strengthen family relationships, prepare for labor and delivery, learn how your baby develops, and get support with challenges. Contact Marisa Pigeon, RN.
Visit website for more info
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Maternal and Child Health

Serving the communities and families of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. WIC, Maternal and Child Health, and Family Spirit programs provide maternal and child health services. Includes two locations for community members.
Call Maternal and Child Health at (320) 362-1710
Visit website for more info
Red Lake Nation WIC Program

Serving Women, Infants, and Children of Red Lake Nation, WIC is a nutrition and breastfeeding program and includes benefits such as nutrition information and community referrals.
Call (218) 679-3134 for more info or to make an appointment
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Health and Wellness Services

Offering a variety of services for health and wellness. Open to community members, employees, and other Natives. Includes strategies to improve community health and wellness.
Visit website to learn more
Upper Sioux Community IHS

Pezihutazizi Oyate’s Indian Health Service provides community members with wellness checks and referrals or other resources.
Contact Community Health Representative at (320) 564-6309
Visit website to learn more
White Earth Nation LIFE Program

LIFE is a home visiting program designed to promote family self-sufficiency and to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families.
Office hours are 8:00 am and 4:30 pm, M-F
Call (218) 983-3286 for more info

Indigenous Milk Medicine Resources

Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor Training

The Indigenous Breastfeeding Counselor training is a 5 day, 45 hour course that provides foundational lactation education to Native people so that they provide clinical breastfeeding support in their communities.
Emali questions to indigenousbfcounselor@gmail.com

Learn more
American Indian Cancer Foundation Milk Medicine Documentary

Breastfeeding is one way to prevent breast cancer. This documentary was a collaboration between the American Indian Cancer Foundation, Missy Whiteman, and Indigenous breastfeeding mothers in lower Minnesota.

Watch
Breastfeeding Traditions: A Reconnection to our Past

A presentation created for the Food Justice Summit of 2019 on ways the low breastfeeding rates in Indigenous communities are being addressed. A collaborative presentation between the Indigenous Breastfeeding Coalition of Minnesota and the Public Health Law Center.

Download
Cultural Breastfeeding Practices in MN

Fact sheet made with community members and the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC) on benefits of breastfeeding and traditional breastfeeding practices.

Download
American Indian Worksite Breastfeeding Toolkit

A toolkit for breastfeeding in American Indian worksites developed by the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan.

Download
American Indian Cancer Foundation Mother's Milk Medicine Infographic

Infographic created by the American Indian Cancer Foundation on how breastfeeding reduces the risk of cancer and cancer risk factors.

Download
Land Acknowledgements: A Guide

A guide created by Native Governance Center with support from Lower Phalen Creek. The information was from the knowledge of Indigenous panelists in Minnesota: Dr. Kate Beane, Mary Lyons, Rose Whipple, Rhiana Yazzie, and Cantemaza. Important considerations are highlighted in this guide if you do a land acknowledgement.

Read
Beyond Land Acknowledgement Explainer Video

Created by Native Governance Center in collaboration with Robert Pilot and Lucie Skjefte Design. This short video highlights why going beyond a land acknowledgement is necessary to support and give back to Indigenous communities.

Watch