Transformations in Diabetes in Urban Aboriginal Toronto:
By: Christine McFarlane
Toronto-A 10-month study conducted by Aboriginal post-secondary students found that
the major sources of challenges and successes in diabetes service needs and gaps in research were interagency partnership, knowledge and identification of Aboriginal clients and prevention initiatives. Successes achieved by some agencies indicated that a network of informed agencies and meaningful partnership would best serve the diabetes need of Aboriginal people in Toronto.
“Type 2 diabetes in urban Aboriginal populations is an important yet under-studied area of Indigenous health research,” states renowned researcher Heather Howard-Bobiwash Under the guidance of Howard-Bobiwash, the students conducted interviews with 22 representatives serving Aboriginal people, 15 representatives of 12 non-Aboriginal diabetes programs, 2 forum/focus groups: 16 seniors and 11 youth and 18 Aboriginal people living with diabetes.
Howard-Bobiwash has a personal and professional investment in this project because her late husband Rodney Bobiwash who was a prominent member in the urban Native community of Toronto, passed away from complications of diabetes in 2002. She hopes that “the research presented will provide a glimpse of some of the themes, service needs, and gaps in research and form and sustain partnership between academic institutions and Aboriginal communities, provide and support advanced training in Aboriginal health research and increase Aboriginal communities capacity for health research and disseminate research.”
The research project is aimed specifically at identifying tangible, practical tools for both service providers and Aboriginal persons with diabetes and empowering the urban First Nations youth to manage health with confidence and center research on diabetes education and prevention programming with a goal aimed at restoring a balanced and holistic approach to diet and physical activity by re-learning, teaching and practicing healthy community-based intergenerational relationships around food and eating, and physical activity.
The Urban Aboriginal Diabetes team is in the second phase of the project! They are looking for people who have diabetes who identify as First Nations, Metis or Inuit and are over the age of 18 to participate. If you or someone you think might be interested, give them a call at 416-920-2605 ext. 293 to register and get more details! Please share with your networks thanks!!! www. aboriginal diabetes.com
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