This powerful photo making the rounds on the internet was posted by Emma Jean Nolan, a 30-year-old photographer and former midwife in Australia. This is a shot of a Maori baby. She wrote on her post: “Welcome earthside sweet little Harper. As a Maori baby his placenta will now be returned to the land. The word ‘whenua’ relates to the placenta and to the land. Whenua (placenta) is returned to the whenua (land) with the pito (umbilical cord) the link between the newborn and papatuanuku(mother earth). With this affinity established, each individual fulfils the role of curator, for papatuanuku (mother earth), which remains life long.
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Welcome earthside sweet little HarperAs a Maori baby his placenta will now be returned to the land. The word 'whenua'…
Posted by Emma Jean Photography on Saturday, January 2, 2016
