Two nations sponsor November diabetes conference

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Aboriginal people from the Interior will gather in Penticton Nov. 4 to 6 to attend the People With Diabetes: Taking Control for Balance and Harmony conference. Healthy lifestyles will be topmost on the agenda.

Last year more than 300 participants took in the first British Columbia conference dedicated to prevention strategies and health promotion. Positive evaluations, coupled with requests for more information, convinced organisers to plan a similar event this year. "Before Health Canada introduced their Aboriginal diabetes initiatives, the communities in the Shuswap and Okanagan areas were individually attempting to address awareness and education," explained Donna Felix, who along with registered nurse Sandy Burgess is co-ordinating the conference.

"An Okanagan/Spallumcheen diabetes research project was conducted in 1994 to 1996 among three First Nations communities in the area, which indicated a need for more education and treatment. When funding became available from Health Canada, it was the desire of these bands and others in the Okanagan and Shuswap area to bring together educators, family members, support persons, and people affected with diabetes to the British Columbia Aboriginal Diabetes Conference," Felix said. The ten area bands also received their own funding to use for programs, such as awareness sessions, clinics, education, and training by professionals.

"Today in the communities in the Okanagan and Shuswap areas, the awareness is wonderful to see. People are actually talking about their meal-planning and nutritional needs," said Felix. "A lot of our focus is now on helping people who already are affected by diabetes to cope with it, and encouraging young people to live healthy lifestyles and prevent its occurrence."

This year's conference will include youth representation in a panel presentation. The conference has been made possible through the joint efforts of Felix and Burgess as well as an advisory committee made up of First Nation health workers from the Okanagan and Shuswap tribes.

"Sandy and I see the need for educating the youth, as prevention is the key stopping this epidemic in Aboriginal people. We need more conferences such as this around B.C.," said Felix. "We need to have a whole conference just focussing on youth."

One of the complications which inhibits healthy eating is the ability to afford wholesome food.

"We have forestry and other industries and the new chief and council at Spallumcheen, elected last year, are very entrepreneurial as far as economic development is concerned. We are looking forward to increased employment opportunities in the near future, although it's unlikely we'll ever have enough jobs for everyone, " she said. Felix added that health education and awareness activities in the area have always had the support of chiefs and councils, both past and present. "We are encouraging their attendance at the conference, to demonstrate personally how important it is to be aware, get educated, and be supportive." While doctors and other health professionals will conduct the workshop sessions, the panel discussion features people who have diabetes, she said. Community people will also conduct some traditional workshops.

Sandy Burgess agrees with Felix. "The diabetic lifestyle of good food, daily activity, education, adequate medical care, and taking responsibility for one's own health, is good for everyone. Diabetes is growing around the world, especially in Aboriginal peoples, since traditional lifestyles changed so dramatically. Before 1940, we did not see this disease in Aboriginal people in B.C. Now the rate is four to six per cent, or more in some communities, which is twice the rate for non-Aboriginal people." With diabetes present in many families the need to role model good health practices is necessary to prevent this disease and practice good control, in order to prevent the complications, that accompany this disease, such as heart, kidney, eye, and fot problems, Burgess added. "The conference will address these and other issues in order to inspire those with diabetes to take control of their lives, and to enable those who help and support them to assist in their endeavours."

The conference will include artisans, a trade fair, traditional food, medicine and lifestyle displays, and lots of good entertainment. "We provide all the meals, and the whole conference has been designed from a First Nation perspective," said Felix. People can register right up to the day of the conference, she added.

The conference is being held at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Conference Centre and those attending are encouraged to stay on-site. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-663-9400. For more information, Felix can be reached at 250-838-0373 and Burgess at 250-832-0009.

Workshops are planned so everyone registered can attend each session. "People will leave the conference with more knowledge and awareness about living in control and harmony with this disease," said Felix.