A Healthy Community: Diabetes & Prevention
Adriana Kaye
Ohkay Owingeh
A Healthy Community: Diabetes & Prevention
Adriana Kaye
Ohkay Owingeh
Image 1: Personal Photo, 2022
Image 2: Peersonal Photo, 2021
Image 3: Personal Photo, 2020
The article, “Sharing One Skin” by Jeannette Armstrong she talks about the 4 tributaries which are the kettle, Okanagan/Similkameen, San Poil, and the Methaw. Through using examples of these tribes, she talks about who we are as people and where we come from. She also talks about the 4 capacities of self, which are physical, emotional, thinking/intellectual, and spiritual. She describes Physical as “the parts of us that exist beyond the skin and how there is always a connection between ourselves and everything around us. Emotional is described as what "connects to other parts of our larger selves around us” meaning how we have bonds with things that surround us such as land. Thinking/Intellectual is described as the memory and is “directed by the ignited spark” which means our analytical thought. Lastly, Spirituality is described as "without a substance while moving continuously outward” in which is a place where all things are. She explains the significance of each because she is trying to bring together society as a whole to deepen the connection to the environment, the earth, and to what humanity actually is.
The article, "How place names impact the way we see landscape" by B. Toastie talks about how the renaming of sacred and traditional sites can change the way we view and feel about it. He mentions how different places have a story behind it and how that story helps us perceive and connect with the landscape. For example, he talks specifically about the story of Measuring-Worm Stone which was renamed El Captain, someone who was a part of an Indian-killing militia. By using these colonized names for sacred sites it lacks the deep connection and keeps trauma of dispossession fresh, such as the loss of homelands, hunting grounds ,abuse, cultural degradation, and most importantly the significance of the site. He also talks about how when a indegenous place is renamed it, we lose its connection, because the stories before provide a sense of belonging and tells us about ourselves and the past.
Image 4: Personal Photo, 2022
Image 5: personal Photo, 2022
The article, “Native Americans fight historical discrimination to lower diabetes, obesity rates.” by Daniel Gataclia, talks about a family who made a change in their lifestyle to fight and take a personal stand against diabetes and obesity. Throughout the article they share the reason and statistics of how diabetes and obesity affect Native American more than any other ethnic group. A big thing they talk about is how histroical discrimination and and modern disparitieies play a huge role in the high rate of diabetes within these communitites. As a result of forced relocation from ancestral lands, Native Americans lost their way of life, which resulted in higher health problems among Native Americans. “Acts of Physical and cultural genocide, forced relocation from ancestral lands, involuntary assimilation into Western culture and persecution and outlawing of traditional ways of life, religion and language, have resulted in disproportionately higher rates of health problems among the Native community.” They also talk about how they are trying to find ways to get and stay healthy, through programs, knowledge, and focus on revitalizing the connection to culture and traditional ways to be healthy.
In the article, "Traditions and Diabetes Prevention: A Healthy Path for Native Americans”by Sue Mclaughlin, she talks about how diabetes was unknown in Native communities, until after World War 2 then cases began to appear. Due to genetic, environmental, and behavior issues, many Natives contributed to the high rate of diabetes. In the article the author talks about how the U.S Government was also a part of the issue native Americans faced, by creating Laws and Acts that completely changed their lifestyle. The acts included the Indian Removal Act that forced reservation life, which soon led to boarding school, and the Dawes Act which caused Native Americans to lose millions of acres of land. Some of the lifestyle changes presented in the article is how Native American diets went from wild game, fruits, vegetables, and teas to now a highly processed diet, in which foods are higher in fat, sodium, and have added sugars. Another huge impact expressed in the article is the amount of physical activity that has changed since the moving to reservations. "There were also frequent native dances and powwows, which involved strenuous physical activity. It has been estimated that native people expended more than 4,000 calories per day before the start of reservation life.” In the article the author also talks about ways to get back to the healthy lifestyle Natives had before colonization. Through programs, sharing knowledge on diabetes, and most importantly traditional healing options.
In the video, "Diabetes among Native Americans- Genes or Environment?”by California Newsreel they talked about how back then diabetes was extremely rare, and was only 1 case in the early 1900s. Due to a changing environment and lifestyle around the 1970s native Americans have one of the highest diabetes rates. In the video they talked about how the government chose to spend their money on genetics research within these populations, rather than using their resources and putting it towards the community to boost physical activity and healthy diets.
Image 6: Personal Photo, 2021
Image 7: Personal Photo, 2022
The article “Why Native Americans Are Dying Sooner” by Celine R. Gounder talks about how Native Americans life expectancy took a drastic turn, especially during the pandemic. Throughout the article she talks about how not only manifest destiny had a great impact on Natives, but also how health disparities play a big role in the issues we are seeing. She also talks about how Natives were set up for failure since the beginning of modernization. “The attack on indigenous peoples evolved over time. It began with overt genocide…Then came the era of assimilation.” Throughout the article, she mentions how Native Americans are affected by health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This was a result of how Natives were treated and how they survived off of what they were given. “The people were given measly rations of flour, sugar, salt, and lard- the ingredients to make fry bread, what many think is a traditional indigenous food, but is in fact a food of oppression.”
The article “Diabetes in Native Communities in the US '' by Julia Kennedy, Katie Mahoney, and Reshma Rajasnigh talks about the diabetes epidemic that is affecting mostly Native American communities. In the article they talked about how Natives are more likely to have some form of diabetes than any other race/ethic group, due to many contributing factors. For instance, they mention how natives were forced to abandon their diet, which resulted in malnutrition and the dependency on western foods. As we get into the modern world, natives face food insecurity. “...Native people on tribal reservations do not have sufficient access to grocery stores and healthy food options.” The article also mentions how discrimination and racism play a role in the diabetes epidemic. As a result of the discrimination within the healthcare system, Natives are more likey to avoid seeking the medical help they need.
In the video, "Diabetes among Native Americans- Genes or Environment?”by California Newsreel they talked about how back then diabetes was extremely rare, and was only 1 case in the early 1900s. Due to a changing environment and lifestyle around the 1970s native Americans have one of the highest diabetes rates. In the video they talked about how the government chose to spend their money on genetics research within these populations, rather than using their resources and putting it towards the community to boost physical activity and healthy diets.
Image 8: "preventing Diabetes"
Image 9: "Managing Diabetes"
Image 10 : "Managing Diabetes"
The article, "What to know about diabetes in India” by Lauren Martin talks about how diabetes is a rapidly growing concern within India. She mentions how India is one of the countries with the highest rate of diabetes, with more than 77 million adults diagnosed with diabetes. There are a few reasons as to why they are more prone to developing diabetes within their lifetime. For starters the article mentions how people of South Asian ancestry tend to have a higher fat to muscle ratio compared to people of European descent. Another huge change mentioned is how India is becoming more urbanized and having people move into the cities in which they have more access to processed foods. Other reasons she mentioned were changes in farming practices, social stress, sweet cuisines, and increased availability of processed foods.
The article, "Accessibility of Healthy Food and Type-2 Diabetes in Africa" by the Engage Africa Foundation talks about the Sub-Saharan African region and how the diabetes rate increased dramatically and the contributing factors that played a role. The Africa Region is one of the top 5 countries with the most cases, there are currently 24 million adults between the ages 20-79 who have been diagnosed and it is expected to rise up to 33 million by 2030. Throughout the article they talked about how healthy management was an issue the people faced and getting access to all the right treatments they need. The people face issues such as affordable treatment, diet habits, food scarcity, and the availability of healthy local foods.
The video, "Diabetes in the Marshall Island" by the California Newsreel talks about a community known as Marshall island in which like many others is affected negatively by diabetes. The article mentioned how farming was essential to a healthy lifestyle, but now with the processed foods and foods that are imported it is much easier and faster to get food that isn't good for you. It also mentioned how the food that they do get is shipped in and the fresh food is more expensive.
Action Plan 1:
Here we have a few healthy snack options.
Quick and accessible homemade recipes.
Fast-Food Alternatives.
Image 11: Personal Photo, 2022
Image 12: Personal Photo, 2022
Image 13: Personal Photo, 2022
What I wanted to do was hold a class, and provide them, with information about diabetes and better their knowledge.
Also play informational videos for them to understand why it's important to know and be aware of diabetes.
Armstrong, Jeanette. “Sharing One Skin: The Okanagan Community,” in Jerry Mander and Edward
Goldsmith (eds), The Case Against the Global Economy. San Francisco, CA, Sierra Club
Books, 1996. Pp 460-470.
Toastie, B. “How place names impact the way we see landscape.” High Country News: Know the West, 1
https://www.hcn.org/issues/54.5/people-places-how-place-names-impact-the-way-we-see-landsc
ape. Accessed 27 August 2022.
Gatalica, Daniel. "Native Americans fight historical discrimination to lower diabetes, obesity rates." Indian Life, vol. 40, no. 4, Jan.-Feb. 2020, p. 11. Gale In Context: Middle School, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A618384861/MSIC?u=nm_s_santafeis&sid=ebsco&xid=31ccdfaf. Accessed 14 Oct. 2022.
Sue McLaughlin; Traditions and Diabetes Prevention: A Healthy Path for Native Americans. Diabetes Spectr 1 January 2010; 23 (4): 272–277. https://doi.org/10.2337/diaspect.23.4.272
California newsreel, director. Diabetes among Native Americans- Genes or Environment? . YouTube, YouTube, 22 Oct. 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWurOLNUbkw. Accessed 14 Oct. 2022.
Gounder, Celine R. “Why Native Americans Are Dying Sooner.” Time , 5 Oct. 2022, https://time.com/6219765/native-americans-life-expectancy/.
Kenney , Julia, et al. “Diabetes In Native Communities in the US .” DiaTribe Change , 14 Oct. 2021, https://diatribechange.org/news/diabetes-native-communities-us.
Unnaturalcauses, director. Diabetes among Native Americans- Genes or Environment? Youtube.com, 8 July 2010, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfPdhhXcGRQ&t=35s. Accessed 21 Nov. 2022.
Martin, Lauren. “What to Know about Diabetes in India .” MedicalNewsToday, 28 July 2021, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diabetes-in-india.
Foundation, Engage Africa. “Accessibility of Health Food and Type-2 Diabetes in Africa .” Engage Africa Foundation , 18 Aug. 2022, https://www.engageafricafoundation.org/blog/view/accessibility-of-healthy-food-and-type-2-diabetes-inafrica.
Newsreel , California, director. Diabetes in the Marshall Islands . 2014.
Owingeh , Ohkay. “Preventing Diabetes .” Ohkay Owingeh , 2022, http://ohkay.org/diabetes-wellnes-center/. Accessed 20 Apr. 2023.
Owingeh , Ohkay. “Managing Diabetes.” Ohkay Owingeh , 2022, http://ohkay.org/diabetes-wellnes-center/. Accessed 20 Apr. 2023.
Owingeh , Ohkay. “Managing Diabetes.” Ohkay Owingeh , 2022, http://ohkay.org/diabetes-wellnes-center/. Accessed 20 Apr. 2023.