Name
Oceanna
Tribal Nation
Cowlitz Indian Tribe
a Salish-Sahaptian Tribe of
Southwest Washington
Dream
The Cowlitz River is a potent arm of the Lower Columbia River. It begins on the glaciers of Mount Rainer and gathers streams from Mount Adams and Mount Saint Helens. Oceanna McKenzie ceremoniously introduced her three-day-old daughter, tə́ktkni ʔayóʔ–Hummingbird Medicine, to this beautiful river that her people have been stewards of for millennia. While known as The Forever People, The Cowlitz Tribe’s name translates to Seekers of Medicine Spirit.
Throughout her motherhood journey, Oceanna connects to her people’s traditions. Her daughter came into the world to her grandmother’s hands, hearing words and prayers in the Cowlitz language. She would like to connect with other parents through traditional practices. Birthing and naming ceremonies have been a part of Oceanna’s life as the daughter of a global midwife. She grew up attending childbirth classes, prenatal and postpartum visits, and quietly supporting during births. Her mother’s work brought them across the world to Uganda to work at an indigenous-led birth center. She assisted her mother by creating care packages for new parents and organizing medical supplies in the birth center. Being a midwife assistant and doing placenta encapsulation has been rewarding for Oceanna, and she is actively training to become a lactation consultant.
Oceanna will continue to support her mother’s midwifery. She will lend her talents to her mother’s dream of building a Cowlitz Medicine Women’s Council.
