Diabetes
“Diabetes is a lifelong (chronic) disease in
which there are high levels of sugar in the blood” (Diabetes, 2007). I currently work in the social work field,
and I have seen a large number of Indigenous People who have diabetes. I have
also seen other cultures; however, in my profession development I have noticed the
ratio is far greater with the Indigenous People in the northern regions on
Ontario.
In one of the articles I have
read it states that in the “case of Aboriginal populations, changes wrought by
colonization are considered a major factor for the alarming rise in the
incidence of diabetes” (Iwasaki, Bartlett & O’Neil, 2004). One of the
main reasons why the rates of Indigenous People with diabetes have been
increasing is because of the change in dietary habits(Kuhnlein, Receveur, 1996).
The Indigenous People have lost their cultural food, and some do not remember
how to prepare and cook the food, thus having lost a large part of their
culture. (Iwasaki, Bartlett & O’Neil, 2004). There has been a direct
impact on the increase rate diabetes since the Europeans have arrived. Another
factor leading to diabetes is upon the arrival of Europeans, colonization began
and areas were cleared for new towns and hunting area began to diminish;
therefore, leaving less food for Indigenous People to hunt, becoming reliable
on the food the Europeans could provide (Lecompte, McKinnon &
Kristjansson). This means they have become depending on stores to buy most of
their products, one of my past clients explained to me that the cost of milk
and fruits were over 10 dollars for 1 bag or 1 red pepper. However a bag of
chips only cost approximately 3 dollars. As a Conservative government this
important that markets are increasing their revenue (Hick, 2007). In addition, inequality is seen as a value to
the Conservative government, therefore if certain people can afford more costly
items to live a healthier lifestyle, then that is simply part of the policies implemented
by government to create an inequality amongst individuals (Hick, 2007).
As many people know Residential
school were implemented in 1867 by the government many years ago to assimilate
the Indigenous people (Hick, 2007). In
June of 2008 the Conservative government had officially released an apology for
these acts of attempt to assimilate; however, the damage had been done
(Anderson, 2012). Indigenous people returned to their lands and attempted to
regain their culture, however found themselves struggling to use resources on
the land to have a healthy lifestyle like past generations. As mentioned
earlier they had lost their ways in preparing tradition food, and had relied on
Europeans food source (Kuhnlein, Receveur, 1996). Now they are in need of
assistant from the government. However if government was to create new services
and offer funds to help Indigenous People, it would simply create a dependence
on the government which is not the government wants (Hick, 2007). The Conservatives see social programs as a
hinder in the world, thus see no need to create new services (Hick, 2007). They have other options like seeking elder
teaching to return to their culture ways, or they could simply utilize the
resources available like the markets nearest to them to continue their
lifestyle.
When
you live on a reserve and the cost of living becomes far greater than expected
and having many of your family members living with you it becomes a struggle to
attempt to purchase fruits or milk. I ask you the question if you had 7 people
living with you, would you buy fruits and vegetables that would cost you
roughly 100 dollars every 3 days or would you buy a bag of chips that would
cost you 40 dollars for 3 days? Unhealthy eating habits (likes chips and many
other things) are leading to more Indigenous people to develop
diabetes.
Christine
References:
Anderson, W. (2012) International Communication
Gazette. ‘Indian drum in the house’:
A
critical discourse analysis of an apology for
Canadian residential schools and the
public’s response. 74 (6). 571-585.
Retrieved from:
http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/17480485/v74i0006/571_dithacrsatpr
Diabetes (2007). A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved
Hick, S. (2007) Social
Welfare in Canada Understanding Income Security (2nd Edition).
Toronto,
On: Thompson
Educational Publishing Inc.
Iwasaki, Y., Bartlett, J., & O’Neil, J.
(2004). Ethnicity and Health. An
examination of stress among
Aboriginal women and men
with diabetes in Manitoba, Canada. 9 (2), 189-
212. Retrieved from
Traditional Food Systems of Indigenous Peoples. 16 (1), 417-442. Retrieved from:
http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/01999885/v16i0001/417_dcatfsoip
Lecompte, E., McKinnon, J., &
Kristjansson, E. (n.d.). Food insecurity in Aboriginal Urban
Households.
Retrieved
