Maamuu in action
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Maamuu Nakaahehtaau - Together, we can build a healthy future
March 4, 2011 by admin
In Eeyou Istchee, one out of every five adults, and a growing number of young adults and even children, have type 2 diabetes. At this rate, in 25 years 40% of all adults will be living with the disease. It’s time to stop the diabetes epidemic. The Maamuu Nakaahehtaau process, started by the Cree Health Board in 2010, has an ambitious goal of working to end the diabetes epidemic that has touched the lives of 4 generations of Cree people. Maamuu Nakaahehtaau means “Together, let’s prevent it.”For the latest news, check out the Maamuu blog
Alarming trends
Since the 1980s, the percentage of the Cree population with diabetes has grown by about 1% per year, and there are other alarming trends: Cree people get diabetes about 20 years earlier, on average, than “down south,” which means a 20-year head start on related health problems like heart disease, nerve damage and kidney failure. In addition, diabetes affects Cree women more than men. Currently, there are 3 women with diabetes for every 2 men. This is a huge concern because babies born to women with diabetes are themselves more likely to get the disease*. According to Dr. Richard Lessard, Director of Public Health with the CBHSSJB, “it means we need to do everything we can to help young women stay healthy.”
Since the 1980s, the percentage of the Cree population with diabetes has grown by about 1% per year, and there are other alarming trends: Cree people get diabetes about 20 years earlier, on average, than “down south,” which means a 20-year head start on related health problems like heart disease, nerve damage and kidney failure. In addition, diabetes affects Cree women more than men. Currently, there are 3 women with diabetes for every 2 men. This is a huge concern because babies born to women with diabetes are themselves more likely to get the disease*. According to Dr. Richard Lessard, Director of Public Health with the CBHSSJB, “it means we need to do everything we can to help young women stay healthy.”
A call to action
Maamuu Nakaahehtaau will combat diabetes by calling upon leaders to make it a central priority to support people in their efforts to live a healthy life. This includes making sure that in every community, it is easy and safe for people of all ages to walk, play and do sports, and that families have access to affordable, healthy food, including traditional food. “The problem can't be solved just by telling people to exercise and eat healthy,” says Solomon Awashish, who has spent the last 10 years fighting diabetes in Eeyou Istchee. “It's going to take all of us working together – political leaders, churches, healers and healthcare workers, teachers, restaurant owners and parents – to tackle the challenge once and for all.”
Walking the talk
On August 11, 2010 the General Assembly of the Grand Council/CRA passed Resolution 13, which endorses the Maamuu Nakaahehtaau approach. To kickstart the region-wide implementation of healthy public policies, the Public Health Department will organize health summits in every community – positive, action-oriented meetings that will identify things that are working well and build on them.
On August 11, 2010 the General Assembly of the Grand Council/CRA passed Resolution 13, which endorses the Maamuu Nakaahehtaau approach. To kickstart the region-wide implementation of healthy public policies, the Public Health Department will organize health summits in every community – positive, action-oriented meetings that will identify things that are working well and build on them.
Honouring local heroes
The symbol of the Maamuu Nakaahehtaau campaign is a moosehide ribbon created by Mistissini artists Elizabeth Matoush Coon and Christine Mianscum. The women made 100 ribbons which will the Cree Health Board will give as recognition awards to people throughout Eeyou Istchee who are making a significant contribution to diabetes awareness, prevention and care.
The symbol of the Maamuu Nakaahehtaau campaign is a moosehide ribbon created by Mistissini artists Elizabeth Matoush Coon and Christine Mianscum. The women made 100 ribbons which will the Cree Health Board will give as recognition awards to people throughout Eeyou Istchee who are making a significant contribution to diabetes awareness, prevention and care.
Since August 2010, ribbons have been given to: Johnny and Charlotte Husky Swallow, Emma Coon Come, Minnie Awashish, Joseph and Laurie Loon, Bella Loon Petawabano, William and Emma Matoush, Pierre Haddad, Alain Cuerrier, Timothy Johns, Steffany Bennett, John Thor Arnason, Brian Foster, Matthew Coon Come, Gerry Wapachee, Monique Laliberté, Aissatou Bah, Rusty Cheezo, Johnny Tomatuk, Melissa Natachequan, Bella Moses Petawabano, Kathleen Wooton, Christine Connors, Bernadette Shields, Roger Weapinacappo, Florence Cheezo, Eva Louttit, Henry Moses, George Diamond, Edward Gilpin and Daniel Moses.
Community Health Representatives awarded the ribbon in March 2011:
Joni Saganash - Waswanipi
Diane Ottereyes - Waswanipi
Jennifer Pepabano - Oujé Bougoumou
Maria Longchap - Oujé Bougoumou
Bella Rabbitskin Jolly - Nemaska
Helen Iserhoff - Mistissini
Harriet Linton - Mistissini
Dina Snowboy - Mistissini
Karen Coonishish - Mistissini
Charlene Mianscum - Mistissini (auxiliary nurse - Elder's Home)
Hattie Pettawabano - Mistissini (auxiliary nurse - Elder's Home)
Daisy Stephen - Waskaganish
Queenie Stephen - Waskaganish
Bessie Gillis - Waskaganish
Marcella Napash - Waskaganish
Laurie-Ann Georgekish - Wemindji
Kerri Stewart - Wemindji
NormaJean Georgekish - Wemindji
Sherilyn Linklater - Wemindji
Mary Holly Visitor - Wemindji
Maren S. Vaillancourt - Wemindji
Valerie Visitor - Wemindji
Rose Iserhoff - Chisasibi
Mabel Chewanish - Chisasibi
Sherry-Ann Louttit - Chisasibi
Christopher George - Whapmagoostui
Jean Masty - Whapmagoostui
Audrey George Kawapit - Whapmagoostui
Diane Ottereyes - Waswanipi
Jennifer Pepabano - Oujé Bougoumou
Maria Longchap - Oujé Bougoumou
Bella Rabbitskin Jolly - Nemaska
Helen Iserhoff - Mistissini
Harriet Linton - Mistissini
Dina Snowboy - Mistissini
Karen Coonishish - Mistissini
Charlene Mianscum - Mistissini (auxiliary nurse - Elder's Home)
Hattie Pettawabano - Mistissini (auxiliary nurse - Elder's Home)
Daisy Stephen - Waskaganish
Queenie Stephen - Waskaganish
Bessie Gillis - Waskaganish
Marcella Napash - Waskaganish
Laurie-Ann Georgekish - Wemindji
Kerri Stewart - Wemindji
NormaJean Georgekish - Wemindji
Sherilyn Linklater - Wemindji
Mary Holly Visitor - Wemindji
Maren S. Vaillancourt - Wemindji
Valerie Visitor - Wemindji
Rose Iserhoff - Chisasibi
Mabel Chewanish - Chisasibi
Sherry-Ann Louttit - Chisasibi
Christopher George - Whapmagoostui
Jean Masty - Whapmagoostui
Audrey George Kawapit - Whapmagoostui
To find out more about these people and how you can nominate someone to receive the ribbon award, contact Solomon Awashish or Katherine Morrow at the numbers below.
Contact:
Solomon Awashish
Katherine Morrow
Tel: (418) 923 2204 ext. 246 or 254
Tel: (418) 923 2204 ext. 246 or 254
Sources for this article: Cree Diabetes Information System (CDIS) 2007, 2009
* http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/3/585.short
* http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/3/585.short
Read more:
The Nation, November 5, 2010
Positive Reinforcement: The Cree Health Board wants to address diabetes from a different angle to engage everyone, by Amy German
The Nation, November 5, 2010
Positive Reinforcement: The Cree Health Board wants to address diabetes from a different angle to engage everyone, by Amy German
Check out the Maamuu blog for more news about this project.
This collection, Cree Health, by Public Health Department of the Cree Health Board is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada license.