Placenta and cord care sessions planned in Bismarck, McLaughlin and Mobridge

Sacred Pipe Resource Center and Mni Wičhóni Health Circle are planning a series of community events focused on placenta and cord care during the early postpartum phase, according to an event announcement shared by the organizations. The sessions are scheduled from 5-7 p.m. May 26 in Bismarck at Sacred Pipe Resource Center, May 27 in McLaughlin, South Dakota, at the SBC campus and May 29 in Mobridge, South Dakota, at the A.H. Brown Library.

According to the announcement, the gatherings will include educational discussions, traditional practice sharing and materials for making a “Chekpa Ognake” for infants. Organizers said the events are open to Indigenous people interested in learning about postpartum care, supporting loved ones or participating in community discussions. The announcement also asked people who are sick or recently ill to stay home.