Resources

Past Presentation

Supporting Rural Indigenous Breastfeeding Families | September 22, 2026

Date of Presentation: September 22, 2026

Type: Past Presentation  

Audience: Clinical  

Program: Pregnancy Care and Access  

Keywords: #breastfeeding  #chest feeding  #cultural strengths  #lactation  #maternal  #maternal health  #mental health  #rural  

In this presentation, Dr. Charlene Ramirez explores the unique intersection of geographical, financial, and cultural factors that shape the lactation journeys of Indigenous families in remote areas. This session provides healthcare professionals with the practical and analytical tools necessary to bridge gaps in rural healthcare infrastructure.

Recording:

Presented by:

Charlene Ramirez
DNP, RNC-OB, IBCLC, C-EFM

Charlene Ramirez is a proud member of the Blackfeet Nation. She is the founder of Plains to Peaks Indigenous Lactation Coalition in Montana. She recently obtained her credential as an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. She has been a registered nurse in obstetrics for 18 plus years and has seen first-hand the difficulties many Indigenous rural and urban woman face while pregnant, during childbirth, and in the postpartum period. I believe that creating a safe space for these women while creating a community for them to work with is important. Her passion for maternal health deepened during her time working at the Blackfeet Community Hospital, where she saw firsthand how limited postpartum resources can be for women living in rural communities. Although she now lives in an urban area, her commitment remains rooted in supporting Indigenous mothers across Montana.

Dr. Patricia Capo
Dr. Patricia Capo
Faculty

Dr. Patricia (Tricia) Capo, MD, FACOG, is an ObGyn physician at Alaska Native Medical Center and Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska. She graduated from Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and completed her residency training at The Mayo Clinic and Greenville Hospital System in South Carolina. Tricia has an inherent passion for Indigenous women’s health. She is a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and grew up on the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota. As a physician and a patient in the IHS system she hopes to provide a unique perspective and strive for quality care for Indigenous people.

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Resources Provided:

Date added: September 15, 2026