KTLC Episode 102 Indigenous Lactation with Elizabeth Montez

Lactation support should not be based on income bracket, however it frequently is.  In this episode Katie Oshita and Elizabeth Montez-Garcia discuss how non-profit programs, such as Open Arms in Washington, can support indigenous families with lactation support.  

Podcast Guest: Elizabeth Montez (ILC, IBCLC) is an Anishinaabe and Latine lactation consultant, educator, and community organizer working at the intersection of Indigenous perinatal health, family wellness, and systems change. She is the founder of Flower Moon Families, offering direct lactation care, education, and culturally grounded support to families across Northern Michigan while also expanding access to education and care across Turtle Island. Elizabeth brings years of experience as Community Education Specialist and Clinical Lactation Lead at Open Arms Perinatal Services, where she has built upon the vision of Camie Goldhammer, MSW, IBCLC (Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate), who created the lactation program, by developing an IBLCE Pathway One educational and mentorship opportunity for rising lactation professionals of color.

Elizabeth serves as the Indigenous Breastfeeding Community Liaison for Michigan WIC and as a board member at large for South East Michigan IBCLCs of Color. She is lactation faculty at Cedar Medicine School of Midwifery and has shared her teachings at various conferences including GOLD Lactation, with upcoming presentations for Lactivents, Alaska Native Birth Coalition, Best Starts For Kids King County, and National Indigenous and Native American WIC Coalition yet to come in 2025. A founding board member of Ogimaa and a planning team member for Indigenous Milk Medicine Week, Elizabeth weaves her clinical expertise with Indigenous knowledge systems, viewing lactation not just as infant feeding, but as a radical act of rematriation, community care, and generational sovereignty. Her work is dedicated to creating a world where Black and Indigenous families thrive, and where all babies are welcomed in communities that honor their sacredness and wisdom.

Podcast Host: Katie Oshita, RN, BSN, IBCLC has over 25 years of experience working in Maternal-Infant Medicine.  While Katie sees clients locally in western WA, Katie is also a telehealth lactation consultant believing that clients anywhere in the world deserve the best care possible for their needs.  Being an expert on TOTs, Katie helps families everywhere navigate breastfeeding struggles, especially when related to tongue tie or low supply.  Katie is also passionate about finding the root cause of symptoms, using Functional Medicine practices to help client not just survive, but truly thrive. Email katie@cuddlesandmilk.com or www.cuddlesandmilk.com