B2 - Engaging Partnerships and Community Through Cultural Well-Being Practices for Native Families

The typed transcription of this session can be found HERE

Full Description: Nitamising Gimashkikinaan is currently a perinatal and lactation virtual support circle focused on providing culturally-grounded support to Indigenous mothers and their babies. The group was originally founded in 2019 in response to low rates of breastfeeding among Indigenous mothers. Nitamising Gimashkikinaan meets twice a month, during which participants learn about pregnancy, lactation, and parenting based in Indigenous practices and history from other parents, professionals, and guest speakers. The group provides a perinatal safe space for pregnant and new parents and professionals to learn about their culture in relation to their experiences with pregnancy and parenthood. This workshop will focus on engaging partnerships and community through a cultural well-being practices for Native families.

We will also cover findings from a survey conducted in Summer 2021 that was aimed at evaluating Nitamising Gimashkikinaan’s services and identifying unmet needs among group participants. The online survey asked respondents about their experiences attending Nitamising Gimashkikinaan meetings, different life experiences, their opinions and perceptions of Nitamising Gimashkikinaan, and identified needs that Nitamising Gimashkikinaan is filling. The survey also included a section on COVID-19 vaccines.

Through the survey, we were able to reflect on the services that we have provided to our community and use those findings to shape our future goals for the group. By reflecting on our past, we are shaping our future to better serve the needs of indigenous communities.

Abbreviated Description: Nitamising Gimashkikinaan translates to Our First Medicine in the Native Ojibwe language. The Ojibwe presenters will share how this unique support circle came to be and how they provide culturally- grounded support to Indigenous mothers and their babies. The Indigenous Perinatal and Lactation Support Circle meets twice a month, during which participants learn about pregnancy, lactation and parenting based in indigenous practices and history from other parents, professionals and guest speakers.