Host Leah Lemm explores how Indian Country in MN is responding and adapting to the current pandemic health crisis.

On this show, Host Leah Lemm (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) continues her look at how parents of very young children and specifically how new moms are facing the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic  

Leah’s guest today is Shashana Craft (White Earth Nation) who works for Headway Emotional Health as a Family Spirit Infant Parent Support Specialist and is also the founder of the Minneapolis Indigenous Breastfeeding Support Circle.  Leah and Shashana talk about breastfeeding, the stresses parents of little ones are facing right now during the pandemic, and how to build strong support. Shashana shares how learning traditional practices can be especially during these times.

We also hear from Dr. Anne Eglash, with the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Wisconsin, about how breastfeeding helps a baby’s immune system and may offer extra protection if they become ill with COVID-19.

Additional resources for new moms and moms-to-be: 

Pregnancy and Post-Partum Support Minnesota: 612-787-7776.

Strong Hearts Native Helpline: 1-844-7-NATIVE or 1-844-762-8483.

Look for the Minneapolis Indigenous Breastfeeding Support Circle on Facebook.