Welcome to the “Breastfeeding Our Boori” resource. Western NSW Local Health District, Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service (AMIHS) team have developed this resource to provide education, support and local knowledge, assisting Aboriginal women to breastfeed. This resource was developed by the Aboriginal Health Workers and Midwives living in our communities, yarning to women and recording their breastfeeding stories. We would like to thank all the mothers and fathers, aunties and grandparents for sharing their stories and journeys with us.
Aboriginal people experience higher morbidity and increased rates of chronic disease through the life cycle. The protective effects of breastfeeding will assist with closing this health imbalance. We feel privileged to work with and share their journey with so many diverse and proud Aboriginal nations across our District.
Chelsea Wood and her son, Kodah Wood.
Chelsea is a proud Gamilaraay/Kamilaroi woman from the Walgett/Coonamble area. Chelsea’s maternal photo shoot incorporated a traditional tribal theme to embrace her culture and become more grounded and connected. Chelsea loved making her emu feather skirt and getting painted in white ochre for the photo.
Chelsea also continued with her tribal theme for her sons newborn photos and made matching headbands with emu feathers and an emu egg for a centre piece on the headbands. Chelsea dressed in traditional clothes with ochre and son Kodah had a small lap lap and was also painted up in white ochre.
Sheldon Smith
Sheldon is a Bourke artist descended from the Wangkumarra nation which has its traditional lands in the far North West of NSW. Living and working in Bourke has provided opportunities for Sheldon to explore art, and through that, traditional culture.
“I started back when I was in school, painting in a standard non-Aboriginal way. Later on I started painting Aboriginal art and the results made me follow that interest.”
Once the creative spirit was awakened in Sheldon, he could not let it go. Quickly moving styles and exploring creative options until he found a style all of his own that he was comfortable with. Sheldon says that the spirit of invention and creativity runs deep in his family.
“My Grandmother used to do art and do interesting things like incorporate echidna quills and emu feathers into her art, I think that’s when I first got interested.”
Sheldon now uses both styles to produce images, which describe contemporary modern painting styles with traditional symbolic techniques. In this way, an entirely new narrative is created through his work, which takes an age old traditional form, and brings it to life for a new audience.
Sheldon displays and sells his work in Bourke and is happy to talk to visitors about his unique style, as well as his plans for the future, which include plenty of art, and lots of sharing.
“I’d just like to be able to keep painting, and maybe teach kids how I learned to paint the way that I do.”
About the Painting
Sheldon’s artwork shows an Aboriginal birthing tree at the bottom, reflecting connection to country and culture.
The pictures of mother and baby show a mother supporting her pregnant belly, protecting baby in her arms and promoting breastfeeding as baby feeds from her breast.
Sheldon and his partner accessed Bourke Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service (AMIHS) for antenatal care for the birth of their last child.
**This artwork and elements of the piece have been used throughout the "Breastfeeding our Boori" content on this website, with the permission of the artist, Sheldon Smith.
Western NSW Local Health District respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Country throughout Western NSW, and their continuing connection to land, water and community.
We pay our respect to Traditional Custodians, our Elders both past and present and acknowledge the Aboriginal people of the nations that we have the privilege to live and work on.
We share and celebrate the rich history of Aboriginal culture, and recognise the diverse and proud Aboriginal nations across our District.
The WNSWLHD Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service, would like to acknowledge all women, grandmothers, aunties and sisters.
We would also like to acknowledge the diverse Aboriginal culture and real life experiences of women who have shared and continue to share stories for the benefit of all mothers and babies.
Wiradjuri language is used within this resource as this is the main language within Western NSW but we acknowledge all countries.