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We invite you to join us in sunny Tempe, Arizona February 17-19th, 2012 to hear, among others, our keynote speakers:
 Patrisia Gonzales, Keynote Speaker Saturday, February 18th, 2012. As the daughter of Kickapoo, Commanche and Macehual peoples who migrated across present-day United States and Mexico, Patrisia Gonzales specializes in Indigenous ways of knowing and Indigenous medicine. She teaches courses about American Indian Medicine and Mexican Traditional Medicine at the University of Arizona, where she is a professor in Mexican American Studies and affiliated faculty in American Indian Studies and the Native American Research and Training Center. As a Kellogg Fellow, she explored community healing and Indigenous medicine and helped to establish a promotora project on traditional medicine in New Mexico. She is a promotora of Mexican Indigenous Medicine and an herbalist. She apprentices with Macehual elders as a Traditional Birth Attendant. She descends from three generations of traditional healers: bonesetters, curanderos, herbalists and midwives. Her great-grandmother Mama Concha was a midwife in Texas in the 1800s. In 1992, upon participating in numerous gatherings with elders, she decided to deeply acquire two kinds of knowledge that would protect life: plant knowledge and baby-catching. In the course of a traditional practice, she has learned about catching babies and being a “mother-maker.” Her book, “Red Medicine: Traditional Indigenous Rites of Birthing and Healing” (University of Arizona Press 2012) will debut in March. |
 Geradine Simkins, Keynote Speaker Friday, February 17th, 2012. Geradine is a midwife, writer, activist, and visionary who has passionately provided midwifery care in a variety of settings for over thirty years. Geradine is the editor of an anthology of vibrant and inspiring memoirs of 25 remarkable midwives, published in 2011, and a must-read for anyone who cares about mothers and babies. She has dedicated her work years to maternal and child health, women’s healthcare in Northern Michigan, and serving marginalized people in community-based programs, such as American Indians and migrant farm workers. Geradine is currently midwifing the movement as President of the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) and MANA’s first Interim Executive Director. Geradine is the proud mother of three amazing homeborn, homegrown children who are now adults working to make the world a better place. |
 Dr. Gladys McGarey is internationally recognized as the Mother of Holistic Medicine. In practice as a family doctor from 1946 to 2004, she relentlessly advocated and advanced the emergence of holistic patient care. Often, in the early years, she experienced staunch opposition from a male-dominated medical establishment. In 1970, she co-founded the A.R.E. Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, where she and her former husband pioneered the integration of allopathic and holistic medical practices, laying groundwork for the cultural shift of recent years. Among Dr. McGarey’s innovations for natural birthing was the Baby Buggy Program founded in 1978, featuring a fully-equipped paramedical and emergency transport vehicle for home deliveries. Her ability to foster effective holistic self-management of debilitating chronic conditions has attracted patients from afar, including notable celebrities. Since 1979, she has offered intensive holistic healing programs such as the Phoenix Experience, a residential retreat currently held semi-annually in Carefree, Arizona. Her efforts world-wide continue to receive international acclaim.Dr. McGarey is past president of The American Holistic Medical Association and the Arizona Board of Homeopathic Medical Examiners; and a Founding Diplomat of the American Board of Holistic Medicine. She is on the Advisory Board of Arizona State University East. Among her many awards are the Humanities Award for Outstanding Service to Mankind, from the National Committee for the Advancement of Parapsychology and Medicine (1990); a 1998 YWCA Tribute to Women award in the healer category; and the David Stackhause Award for pioneering excellence in homeopathy (1994). In May of 2003 she was honored by the American Holistic Medical Association as a Pioneer of Holistic Medicine. |
The Western Region of the Midwives Alliance of North America is proud to host a regional conference with Southwestern flair. Our theme is “Coming into the Light”, which reflects the warmth of our climate in Arizona but also the fact that now, more than ever, midwives are getting recognized for being important and necessary for safe maternal health. We wish to bring our western midwifery states together and share southwestern knowledge and sisterhood. We hope you will join us!
YOUR REGISTRATION INCLUDES:
Three Incredible Keynote Speakers
A visit by the Mwamba Children’s choir from Uganda
Two and a half days of full conference sessions by experts in their fields
Up to 14.5 MEAC contact hours can be earned for the conference
Movie screenings with discussion Panels
A Celebration on Saturday
Tributes and Ceremony in the spirit of the Southwest
Book Signings by well known Authors
Continental breakfast all three days, food Break Stations loaded with all your favorite snacks and beverages from 10am to 5pm, and lunch both full conference days
Vendors and information booths
A red tent room and yoga daily as well as body workers available
Enjoy this conference at a lovely Venue:
A fantastic hotel with amenities such as free airport shuttle, wifi, rooftop hot tubs and a heated pool, tennis area, indoor and outdoor restaurant and bar areas – located in sweet Arizona University college town Tempe (a very walkable area with restaurants and shopping).
Please also Consider updating your skills with:
A full pre-conference day with practical skills and extra learning opportunities. (4-8 MEAC CEUs offered per most workshops)
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!
The Mwamba Children's Choir will help open our conference!
Registration Information
If you have any questions, please email or call Sierra Helton at: manawestern@gmail.com or 928-853-1956
If you would like to join the Midwives Alliance of North America and become a member, please go visit the Midwives Alliance membership page.
We’d love to know you are coming – drop us a line if you are going to register as a walk in. Cash and or Check will be the fastest way to process your payment as a walk-in, although we will take Credit.
Full Conference/MANA Member (any level): $360
Full Conference/NON-MANA Member : $390
Students: $350 *please read the requirements for student rate below
Day Information:
MANA Members and Students*: Friday or Saturday, February 17th or 18th, 2012: $140
MANA Members and Students*: Sunday, February 19th, 2012: $100
NON-MANA Members: Friday or Saturday, February 17th or 18th, 2012: $175
NON-MANA Members: Sunday, February 19th, 2012: $100
$35 one time fee for Contact Hours (CEUs)
Pre-Conference Information
NRP - (ends at 1pm): CLASS FULL $80
IV – Half Day (evening): CLASS FULL $70
Suturing – Full Day: CLASS FULL $175
Holistic Nutrition Inside. Out. – Half Day (morning): $40
In The Womb Project – Full Day: $50
Well Woman – Half Day (morning): $70
Insurance Billing for Midwives (evening): $65
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*QUALIFYING FOR THE SPECIAL STUDENT RATE:In order to qualify for the special student rate you must be a member of MANA, CAM or ACNM (or join concurrently with registration), OR be actively involved in an apprenticeship with a practicing midwife OR be attending an accredited midwifery program OR be a student in a health/medical/nursing school. A letter from your preceptor, program or school stating this relationship must be included with your registration.
Please email, fax or mail your letter to Sierra at: manawestern@gmail.com Sierra Helton, LM, CPM
PO Box 742
Flagstaff, AZ 86002
928-853-1956