Teen Mothers in a Canadian First Nation Town 

Pat Martens, doctoral candidate at the University of Manitoba 

Pat Martens presented a description of breastfeeding promotion strategies in Sagkeeng (Fort Alexander) community, an indigenous (First Nation) community in Manitoba, Canada. WABA assisted the program with a small seed grant to cover part of the cost of producing a booklet on breastfeeding. The booklet included drawings of First Nation mothers done by a local male artist; this strategy was chosen as a way of reaching the men of the community. Expenses for training the first peer counselor (PC) of Sagkeeng were also partially covered by the grant.  

Martens found that using the booklet during prenatal instruction by the community health nurse increased the rate of initiation of breastfeeding. There was also a significant increase in the duration of breastfeeding among women in the peer counseling program. Compared to a control group, mothers who had peer counseling were twice as likely to be breastfeeding at any point along the way. The PC has also been involved in adolescent education in the junior high school, grades 7 & 8. The students' knowledge about breastfeeding has increased significantly.  

Martens studied the effect of peer counseling on mothers' confidence and found that mothers had a great need for a peer to help with breastfeeding problems. Those who had contact with the peer counselor had fewer problems with breastfeeding and far greater confidence in their ability to combine work or school with breastfeeding.  

Recently, based on the success of the pilot project, the local health board granted permanent funding to keep the peer counseling program going as part of the health care team. Martens used information about the role of breastfeeding in decreasing the incidence of diabetes to generate interest among community leaders in this area where up to 25% of adults are diabetic. 

A La Leche League Leader donated her time and expertise for peer counselor training. She and the first PC collaborated in writing a PC training manual specifically for the Sagkeeng mothers. WABA's seed grant may have been small, but it was enough to inspire goodness of heart among important community members. Now community members are beginning to recognize the importance of breastfeeding.  

Martens wants to acknowledge people who have contributed to the project: Linda Romphf , PC trainer; Cynthia Fontaine, the first PC; Peggy McKechney, community health nurse liaison to the established health care community; Health Center Administrator Gerald Courchene; and Corinne Sinclair, Head Nurse of the health center.