Alys Brown shares how wāhine are the house of people
Alys shares how different whānau members can support breastfeeding and the wellbeing of mokopuna. Alys sees birth and wāhine as a taonga, just as ūkaipō [breastfeeding] is a taonga that has been passed onto us from our tūpuna. Wāhine are the house of the people, just like the marae, it is a house of protection, a house of nurturing. The act of ūkaipō, the act of breastfeeding is an extension of that.
Tash Wharerau shares how whānau ora practices can be better realised in the context of breastfeeding
Tash explains that while breastfeeding is a natural process, it does not always come naturally. Tash integrates knowlege from te ao Māori, western research and her own experiences to inform how she works with whānau to support holistic wellbeing. Tash recognises the strength of drawing on atua Māori [Māori deities] within her practice, which reminds whānau of the infinite potential which descends from our ancestors and deities.
Amy Wray shares how breastmilk is rongoā
Amy explores the connection between Papatūānuku and wāhine who both sustain and nourish mokopuna. She shares that for wāhine, we not only have the mana to nurture mokopuna within us, in te whare tangata, but once baby is born through our wai ū (breastmilk). Amy shares that breastmilk carries our DNA, it carries our whakapapa. Breastmilk is rongoā, which changes as the needs of our babies change. Ko te whenua te wai ū mō ngā uri whakatipu.