Ashley Sayers, Ojibwe. IBCLC, ILC

Editor’s note: Indigenous Milk Medicine Week is celebrated August 8-14. We hope you enjoy learning more from Ashley S. of the Native Breastfeeding Coalition of California.

Indigenous Milk Medicine Week is a crucial platform for highlighting Indigenous breastfeeding practices, advocating for better support systems, and promoting the health of Indigenous birth-givers and their babies. This annual event emphasizes the resilience of Native families and the importance of Native care providers. As a Native American mother, I understand how our experiences shape access to quality and culturally relevant support for breastfeeding, with effects that can persist for generations. As one of the few Native International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) and full-spectrum doulas, I witness firsthand how a lack of congruent care affects my clients.

Growing awareness and education have resulted in a broader understanding of the historical and ongoing injustices that have faced our Native American communities. Passionate Native American activists and organizations have been vocal in raising awareness about the impacts of colonization, forced assimilation, and systemic racism upon us. Native representation has increased in the media, arts, and literature, allowing for authentic and diverse Native American experiences to be shared in our own voices with wider audiences. Reproductive justice movements have highlighted the interconnections between various forms of oppression aimed specifically at Natives in efforts to disrupt our rights to have children or not, and to parent the children we do have in safe and supportive environments. Generations of government-mandated boarding school attendance for all Native children, mass forced sterilization, ongoing violence against Native American women, excessive incarceration rates and family severance, disproportionate removal of Native American children from our familial units and cultures, barriers to accessing culturally relevant care, and policy and legal barriers have created ongoing struggles for us as Native Americans.

Many people believe these events to be historical, but impacts persist. Many of us have experienced these traumas ourselves, leading to generational trauma, high maternal and infant mortality rates, and significant impacts to our mental health as we navigate these ongoing challenges.

Breastfeeding intertwines physical health, community, and cultural practices, promoting optimal wellbeing. Human milk is so much more than the best nutrition for infants: it serves as a healing medicine, reconnecting us to traditional practices and helping break cycles of trauma.

Epigenetics reveal that our experiences alter the way our DNA functions and passes on. This process, most critical from in utero to about three years of age, aligns with the time when human milk feeding should occur. Beyond milk, the positive interactions of holding and nourishing our babies at the breast can help heal our lineages.

Breastfeeding also impacts present mental health. Its release of oxytocin promotes bonding and emotional well-being, reducing postpartum depression among many who breastfeed exclusively for at least three months. It can boost maternal confidence and self-esteem, fostering secure attachments and emotional co-regulation.

Thus, breastfeeding plays a vital role in building resilience within Native communities, promoting generational health, strengthening community ties, and enhancing the physical and emotional health of both parent and child. It serves as traditional medicine, a means of cultural reconnection, and a political act of resistance against ongoing efforts to undermine Native rights.

Despite the recognized value, specific support for Indigenous families remains scarce. Only 0.125% of the 19,930 IBCLCs in the U.S. are Indigenous. Insurance restrictions complicate access to care, making it unlikely for Native families to find a Native IBCLC. Systemic issues like poverty and barriers to education further hinder Native individuals from entering the field.

Nonetheless, Natives are actively working to reclaim breastfeeding and create change. The Indigenous Lactation Counselor program has trained over 560 Indigenous Lactation Counselors across Turtle Island; Zaagi’idiwin doulas provide Indigenous maternal and child health education. The Native Breastfeeding Coalition of California, founded in 2023, aims to increase Native perinatal healthcare providers and promote breastfeeding within Native communities, addressing healthcare disparities and cultural disconnection. More programs are emerging, expanding our collective impact.

Initiatives like Indigenous Milk Medicine Week are essential for healing historical trauma and expanding access to human milk for Natives. Culturally competent lactation support, sharing traditional knowledge, and advocating for Indigenous breastfeeding rights can lead to positive outcomes in our communities. By supporting these initiatives, we can help ensure that future generations of Native children grow healthy, resilient, and connected to their cultural heritage. Together, we can work to heal generational trauma, improve mental health, and build a brighter future for Indigenous communities.

To learn more, check out the following resources and stories:

• Indigenous Milk Medicine Week 2023: “From The Stars To A Sustainable Future”
• Indigenous Milk Medicine Week: Indigenous Milk Medicine Heals
• An Update On Indigenous Milk Medicine Week
• Indigenous Milk Medicine Week: Revitalizing Legacies in Lactation
• Restoring Indigenous Breastfeeding In My Family Lineage
• A Closer Look At Native Breastfeeding Week

Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always

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