1. “Cree Pride” program
added to usual counseling:
will it prevent diabetes risk better?
Volume 1, Issue 1
Miwayan provides community
members with information on the
BRAID diabetes project and
other health research going on in
Driftpile First Nation.
Editor/Publisher:
BRAID Diabetes Research
Group
University of Alberta
8308 – 114 St., Suite 1055A
Edmonton, AB T6G 2V2
Phone: (780) 407-8456
~ in collaboration with ~
Driftpile First Nation
and the
Driftpile Diabetes Program,
Maggie Willier Wellness Centre
The younger generation is of vital importance to communities. Change
is envisioned to benefit the 7th generation.
The Driftpile Health Center has been looking at diabetes in Driftpile
with the help of the BRAID project and the University of Alberta (Doctor
Toth). It has been found that there is a lot of diabetes risk for the Community’s
children. The Community also has higher than average diabetes rates. Diabetes
can cause blindness, kidney failure needing dialysis, amputations and heart
attacks. While diabetes can be “controlled”, it never goes away, and the costs
of “control” are significant.
There was no diabetes in Driftpile 50 years ago. Most people believe
diabetes is caused by the changes in lifestyle that have accompanied
colonization. While some families may be more affected than others, almost
every family in Driftpile is affected by diabetes.
Diabetes can be prevented. BRAID-Kids will test ways of preventing
diabetes risk by working with children and families. BRAID-Kids will test a
“usual” way of preventing diabetes consisting of counseling and advice from
health professionals (nurses and dietitians) against a different strategy that
includes consideration of how lifestyle and habits have been affected by
colonization. This needs to be tested because the BRAID team believes that
advice about exercise and eating habits is not enough. “Cree Pride” will
address spiritual and emotional aspects to provide further balance.
TRINA SCOTT
BRAID-Kids Project
Research Assistant
BRAID-Kids is funded by the Lawson Foundation, an organization that is dedicated
to supporting community-based programs for children and families in Canada.
BRAID Diabetes and Obesity Results for
Children and Adolescents in Driftpile
n=102 children and adolescents (ages 5-17) screened by BRAID
Boys
Watch for BRAID-Kids and “Cree
Pride” starting in Driftpile soon.
For more information, contact
Trina Scott at the Health Center
(780) 355-3931, or cell phone (780)
805-9374.
Girls
Total
BMI:
Obese
Overweight
Normal Weight
55.6%
14.8%
29.6%
52.1%
12.5%
35.4%
53.9%
13.7%
32.4%
Blood Sugars:
Probable diabetes
Pre-diabetes
0
32.0%
2.2%
13.3%
1.1%
23.2%
pg. 1

2. CIRCLE Diabetes Study
Finished Work in Driftpile
Driftpile results will be analyzed with
results from other First Nations
CIRCLE stands for “Canadian First Nations
Diabetes Clinical Management Evaluation Study”. It is a
coast-to-coast study looking at how diabetes health
services are being used in First Nations. CIRCLE is also
looking at the rates of diabetes-related health
complications in First Nations, such as kidney disease and
amputations. Driftpile got involved with CIRCLE through
BRAID, and two local research assistants were trained to
do chart audits of 50 clients with diabetes. Many thanks
to those who volunteered and consented to have their data
in CIRCLE.
CIRCLE researchers have finished getting the
information they need from Driftpile. Now the
researchers will analyze Driftpile’s information and
compare it anonymously and confidentially with
information from the other First Nations that are
participating in CIRLCE. Dr. Ellen Toth is the CIRCLE
researcher for Alberta.
A presentation on the results of the CIRCLE
Study will take place in Driftpile in December 2009. For
more information, contact the Health Center. To read
more about CIRCLE, and to see what other First Nations
are involved in CIRCLE, go online to:
www.braiddm.ca/circle.html
DRIFTPILE Team Gives Presentation at
Indigenous Peoples Forum
At the 2nd International Diabetes in Indigenous
Peoples Forum (Vancouver), representatives from
Driftpile (Florence Willier, Paulette Campiou, Chief Rose
Laboucan, Linda Giroux, Theresa Campiou and Brenda
Laboucan) and Dr. Ellen Toth from the University of
Alberta, gave a presentation on the Driftpile Diabetes
Program. The presentation focused on the four directions,
and the combination
of Traditional and
Western practices
through the sharing
of evidence-based
information and
healing therapies.
Other Health News –
Report says Fort Chipewyan cancer
warrants further study
The Edmonton Journal recently reported on
the results of a provincial study released in February
2009 that showed the Fort Chipewyan community
does have higher rates of biliary cancer than expected,
and that this should be looked into further.
This new report contradicts a previous study
done in response to concerns from community
members; that previous study concluded that cancer
rates in Fort Chipewyan were about the same as the
provincial average.
Health officials say environmental factors
cannot be ruled out, however there is insufficient
evidence to launch a study looking at possible
environmental risks. The report indicates there is a
lack of epidemiological studies on cancer risk in
communities located near oilfields.
Read the Edmonton Journal article online @
www.edmontonjournal.com/Health/Fort+Chipewyan
+cancer+warrants+further+study+report/
1261128/story.html
Read the Fort Chip cancer report online @
www.albertahealthservices.ca/pdf/newsreleases/2009
0202_fort_chipewyan_study.pdf
Swan Hills Treatment Centre to Close?
A recent article in the Edmonton Journal
newspaper talked about how the costs of running the
SHTC have doubled over the past 4 years, even
though its business has gone down. Most of the cost
increase over the past 4 years is money that will be
spent on cleaning up the area when the SHTC
eventually shuts down. This clean-up could cost as
much as $71 million.
An environmental report from 2008 said that
groundwater, soil and pond sediment in some areas of
the SHTC site may have been contaminated.
The SHTC is the only facility in Canada that
handles
high-concentration
PCBs.
However,
government regulations are outlawing most PCB use
in 2012, and so SHTC will lose is main source of
business and may close.
Read the Edmonton Journal article online @
www.edmontonjournal.com/Technology/Swan+Hills
+burns+cash/1259309/story.html
pg. 2