Diabetes Poker Walk & Health Fair
Pic River recognizes National Aboriginal Diabetes Day
by Karina Hunter
Diabetes Poker Walk registration table
PIC RIVER FIRST NATION,– 05.07.10, National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day was recognized in Pic River with a Diabetes Health Fair and Annual Diabetes Poker Walk last Friday, organized by Community Health Nurse Shelly Michano the event included:
- Diabetes screening by a team fromMarathon’s Wilson General Memorial Hospital (WMGH);
- A Healthy Cooking Demonstration;
- First look at Pic River’s new diabetes educational materials titled ‘Diabetes: In the Aboriginal Community’;
- Nike Native Air N7 display and draw;
- New Certified Diabetes Educator introduced;
- Great participation prizes;
much more.
Getting started.
Michano explained that with 1 in 5 people in her community living with diabetes, it really is a priority to continue pro-active efforts aimed at reducing identified risks such as childhood obesity and providing on-going support for those who live with the disease. “It is a community event and our best opportunity to present information, offer screening and continue efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of exercise and a healthy diet” said Michano.
153 Pic River residents, 90 adults and 63 children, participated in the walk and Health Fair which was based out of the Pic River Community Centre. Breakfast is provided for attendees who include students from Pic River Elementary School and the Pic River Family Learning Centre.
Pic River First Nations Annual Diabetes Poker Walk participants, there were nearly a hundred residents who participated in the event.
The screening team from WMGH assisted 22 individuals, 13 were identified as moderate/high risk and had blood work done on site. This is a great example of how vital the services offered at the Health Fair are, without having attended it is impossible to say when the people identified as moderate to high risk might have had opportunity or reason to have themselves tested.
Left, Pic River's new Community Diabetes Educator, Tammi Shaw with CHN and Diabetes Poker Walk and Health Fair organizer, Community Health Nurse Shelly Michano at one of the fair's stations, a display of their new diabetes education materials.
Though the cooking demonstration was held mid-morning, the delicious smell of the dishes which had been prepared was still in the air at noon hour as the event was ending. Participants had enjoyed the opportunity to learn new, healthy ways, to prepare 5 dishes:
- Asparagus;
- Green beans;
- Spaghetti Squash w/ Garlic;
- Bok Choy;
- Beats;
Taste testing was thoroughly enjoyed afterwards and many people said they planned to try preparing the dishes at home.
The Nike Native Air display.
The ‘Diabetes in the Aboriginal Community’ materials which were on display at the Health Fair will be printed as on a tri-fold brochure with inserts. The materials are the result of extensive research and input from community members, since the project was launched in January of 2010; the layout is based on the traditional aboriginal medicine wheel including information on how diabetes affects:
- Physical Health
- Mental Health
- Emotional Health
- Spiritual Health
These will be available at no cost to members of the community and will be used by the new Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), Tammi Shaw, who is working out of the Pic River Health Centre part-time.
Michano wanted to thank everyone, including participants, who helped to make both the Poker Walk and Health Fair a resounding success and recognized the support of the Northern Diabetes Health Network (NDHN).
If you are a Pic River resident requiring assistance with or information on Diabetes,
contact the Pic River Health Centre at 229-1836.
