Reclaiming Roots: An Interview with Leanne Rye Brock on Reproductive Justice, Traditional Healing, and Land Re-Matriation
Written by Ronnie Mason on October 2, 2024
In this segment, Leanne Rye Brock shares the impacts that colonialism has on reproduction, child rearing, land re-matriation, traditional healing practices, and food sovereignty. Through story, research, theory, traditional knowledge systems, Leanne guides us to examine, understand, and reckon with the past, present, and future. Leanne highlights the intersection between traditional healing practices, addressing land contamination, and colonialism.
Leanne is Chahta and Black and was raised in the Central Area of Seattle. She is a mother of three, an activist, advocate, lactation counselor, and doula. Leanne earned a Master’s in Cultural and Reproductive Anthropology with a concentration in Historical Trauma in Black and Indigenous communities. Her aim is to remind youth of the power in traditional healing practices and knowledge systems. This is informed by her background in research, epigenetics, with a focus on historical trauma, ancestral healing, breastfeeding, adoption, prenatal and perinatal psychology. She is currently completing her doctoral program in Philosophy and Indigenous Studies at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.
Prior to precontact, Native communities were made up of more than 50 million people. Due to genocide, disease, ongoing displacement, and other factors plaguing Native communities, the Native population decreased significantly. Native communities continue to experience displacement, discrimination, forced sterilizations, prosecution, land theft, and institutional racism.
Reproductive justice adversities, land contamination, and colonialism impact Native communities. Residue of the past leaking into the present is highlighted thru the following: the inability to reproduce and pass down traditional knowledge, damage caused by boarding schools, violation of ICWA, forced sterilizations, high childhood mortality, lack of access to prenatal care. Leanne shared historical context, research data, and legal background on ICWA, forced sterilizations, childhood mortality, low birthing rates, re-matriation of the land, to shine a light on the gravity of the current state of reproduction, food sovereignty, impacts of land contamination, and the strength within Native communities. Leanne guides us through the spiritual and cultural nuances behind reproductive practices and traditional beliefs. Leanne leaves us to ponder on these adversities, forms of resistance, and tangible practices to in effect, take action to combat and remedy intergenerational and historical trauma.
Other Resources
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)Historical Trauma
“Why Native Stories, and the Impacts of Land Contamination” is a collaborative series, in partnership with King County, that explores the environmental legacy of the ASARCO Tacoma Smelter on Native communities. Through storytelling, this initiative highlights their resilience, examining how environmental challenges intersect with their rights, culture, and future, while advocating for justice and sustainability.
