On November 14th, World Diabetes Day, AFN Regional Chief Katherine Whitecloud says Health Canada has Taken a Step in the Right Direction

OTTAWA, Nov. 14 – Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Katherine Whitecloud is wearing a pedometer today, in recognition of World Diabetes Day as a gesture to promote exercise as a way of controlling diabetes. She says she’s pleased to see Health Canada is also taking positive steps to better serve First Nations people with diabetes. “The prevalence of diabetes among First Nations adults is four times as great as the general Canadian population, meanwhile one in five First Nation adults do not have access to a doctor or nurse in their community,” said regional Chief Katherine Whitecloud who holds the portfolio for Health and Social Development, which also includes patient wait times. “My message today, on World Diabetes Day, is that managing diabetes among First Nations citizens must be a shared responsibility.”

She says Health Canada has taken a step in the right direction by selecting nine First Nations communities for pilot projects designed to test Patient Wait Time Guarantees (PWTGs) for diabetes.

Regional Chief Katherine Whitecloud’s use of a pedometer is a follow up to an initiative at the Assembly of First Nations where employees participated in a challenge to increase their physical activity. Over a three-week period approximately 35 employees took 7,779,352 steps. Next year they will issue a challenge to their peers in regional First Nations Organizations and Tribal Councils to meet or beat their results.

The AFN Chief’s Committee on Health has asked First Nations communities to organize World Diabetes Day events in their communities to promote exercise and a healthy diet. Suggestions included: Organizing a recipe swap, a feast, or a baking contest featuring diabetes friendly foods; and organizing a walk, jog or dance that encourages the community to exercise for thirty minutes.

According to the First Nations Regional Longitudinal Health Survey (RHS):

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Katherine Whitecloud is the Regional Chief for Manitoba. She is Dakota and member of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation. Regional Chief Whitecloud chairs the Chief’s Committee on Health (CCOH) and has been an elected member of the AFN Executive Council since January 26, 2006.

The Assembly of First Nations is the National Organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

For further information: Karyn Pugliese, HeaLth Communications, (613) 241-6789 ext 210, (613) 292-1877, kpugliese@afn.ca