Press Releases

Treaty One Territory, MB – The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs acknowledges November 14 as World Diabetes Day. The theme for this year is “The Family & Diabetes.”

“The prevalence of diabetes in First Nations is one of the most pressing health issues in our communities today,” said Grand Chief Arlen Dumas. “On World Diabetes Day, I encourage First Nations families to continue to practice their cultures and traditional dietary practices.”

“Our people have always known what we need to be healthy,” stated Grand Chief Dumas. “Our cultural practices include growing and harvesting our own food, gathering berries, hunting, fishing, and being physically active every day. I want to encourage parents and grandparents to continue to role model and connect their children and grandchildren to healthy ways of living in an effort to reduce the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in our First Nations.”

Today the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba also marks World Diabetes Day by hosting presentations and demonstrations to encourage a dialogue on the topic of diabetes. The Secretariat invites First Nations citizens and those who work with the Indigenous community to attend a World Diabetes Day event from 10:30am to 12 noon on the 17^th floor at 275 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg.

Attendees will hear see demonstrations and hear about the Secretariat’s regional Foot Care Program and its Diabetes Integration Project. They will also hear from Wendy McNabb Fontaine, a Board member at the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association; Byron Beardy, the regional food security coordinator for Four Arrows Regional Health Authority; and Dr. Allison Dart, pediatric nephrologist at the Diabetes Education Centre for Children and Adolescence.