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.
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
http://resolver.scholarsportal.info/resolve/13557858/v09i0002/189_aeosaamwdimc
Kuhnlein, H.V., Receveur, O. (1996). Annual Review of Nutrition. Dietary Change and
Kuhnlein, H.V., Receveur, O. (1996). Annual Review of Nutrition. Dietary Change and
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
I enjoyed reading and learning from your post. I agree that this is a major social issue that needs to be resolved. A couple years ago I went up to Moosonee for a basketball tournament and stayed with my friends family up there. Just to see the cost of some items is ridiculous, and I agree with the question you posed. Many people would spend less money because they have to pay for other stuff. I feel this issue needs to be resolved because everyone has the right to a healthy living style.
ReplyDelete-Amy
This is something we talked about in our community economics and social development class. There was an older gentlemen there from Fort Albany that came to help us apply CESD in an aboriginal perspective. He was so interesting to listen to, his perspective on things and this is one of the things he discussed. How bad the food situation is up up North. I mean there are so many stigmas attached to overweight aboriginal peoples like laziness and poor choices but sometimes it's the only choice you have. People are wrong to assume things about the culture without finding out the facts first. It's so true everything you said about the price of healthy food versus unhealthy food. The shelf life of healthy food over there is drastically reduced there. The speaker had told us that by the time they get the food up there sometimes the vegetables are going bad. He also informed us about some initiatives that Fort Albany has started there such as gardens, different food suppliers, hunting and more. As a Nation I feel it is important to help people from the North not just supply them with food. One student talked about teaching them how to can vegetables and fruits grown during the summer. I though that was a great idea. These communities can be helped and guided to become more sustainable, healthier and happier if we pulled together and offer the help.
ReplyDeleteAngele
Hello, Great point Angele,
ReplyDeletei agree its not about providing the food as I heard this great saying that makes me thing of this case.Its a (Chinese Proverb and the author is unknown) "Give a man a fish and you can feed him for a day, teach him to fish and you can feed him his entire life" i truely believe that if in life everything is handed to us we will not realize the imnportance of doing those things for ourseoves or even the impact of being able to. In giving someone the skills to do the things for themselves we are not only enabling them to do things for themselves; we are also givng them the tools and ability to steer their own ship ( their own life and the course they will take!!) I truely believe as a Social Worker this is my role and how I would like to help people, especially indigenous peoples. I would like to help them make the changes themselves and give them the tools to make those changes a possiblity and continue for years to come.
Angela
Loved reading this post...
ReplyDeleteI find it very sad that diseases such as diabetes is on the rise...and even more sad that it is more expensive to purchase healthy food than it is to purchase junk food!
The fact that the price of food is more expensive the further North you go is terrible as well. Food is one of our basic needs of survival. People shouldn't have to buy a bag of chips instead of a head of lettuce because the bag of chips is cheaper.
However this seems to be what happens...Having an unhealthy diet can lead to many other health issues other than diabetes as well. Health issues may require visits to the doctor, treatment, etc. Not everyone has an equal chance to health care or medication.
I took nursing at Sault College, and during one of my placements, I worked with a woman who was suffering from diabetes. Her situation had become worse - she had to have both of her legs amputated due to her condition. The surgery sites would not heal as fast as they were supposed to and this woman was in constant pain. It was very heart breaking to see someone in this much pain.
Hopefully one day these conditions will get better, and there will be less suffering.
Meagan (LGBT Group)