Wise Women Gathering Place's(WWGP) vision is to have a vibrant Women's Resource Center, actively supporting women's informed choices regarding their health and life quality. WWGP is a resource for our indigenous communities, other communities, and nationally for those working with birth, health, and relationship development.
Wise Women Gathering Place's mission is to provide Women and their families with information and referrals regarding their health problems, treatment options, and the accompanying risks and benefits enabling them to make more informed choices. WWGP provides information about alternative natural health care options in addition to standard practices.
Wise Women Gathering Place also has a component which provides products and services specifically for Women's intimate health care and wellness needs; and healthy relationship development tools.
What we stand for:
- We believe in family-centered birth for all babies
- We believe that every woman is a midwife and every woman has the right to midwifery care during her childbearing time.
- We believe in informed choice of all the known risks and benefits, in all health related options.
- We believe that the safest and most appropriate care for normal birth is the least interventive care combined with skilled midwifery and watchful professional assistance when necessary.
- We believe that good health begins with successful breast-feeding.
- We believe that good health is preserved by healthy relationship of family members and community members.
WWGP's short term goals are:
- to promote safe, healthy births for babies, mothers and families through programs, education and advocacy.
- to promote breast-feeding.
- To promote gentle, humane treatment of our newborn babies before, during and after birth.
- To continue to revive and promote the art of Midwifery in our community women.
- To develop services and resources for our community which improve the quality of family life.
- To develop and implement programs that enable youth to develop healthy relationships and avoid sexually transmitted disease.
- To develop and implement programs that enable youth to develop healthy relationships and avoid unintended pregnancy. See Discovery Dating.
- To develop and implement programs that enable youth to develop healthy relationships which do not destroy personal self-esteem, but do enrich their circle of friends and their world view. See Discovery Dating.
WWGP's long term goals are:
- to develop a rich and diverse resource center, which provides in-house daycare and enables families to come together for wellness activities in a retreat setting.
- To develop a freestanding birthing center.
- To continue to produce and market our successful projects, including Discovery Dating and Community-Based Abstinence Culture (C-BAC) Project nationally.
- To develop a network of Indigenous Birth Workers to support and promote safe, healthy birth through Midwifery within our communities.
WWGP is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, developed and staffed by Native American midwives. WWGP has been incorporated since 1998, however, has been operating for decades as a home-based women's circle. Children in tow, native women gathered in each others homes discussing issues around childbirth, midwifery, breast feeding, parenting, herbology, and more. In the past 10 years, 5 women have apprenticed under mentor midwife Alice Skenandore and began their own midwifery practice. Many other women in the community attend their sisters, daughters, nieces,and friends births providing support and encouragement.
Click here to learn more about our upcoming trainings.