To educate students and community members about diabetes among people in general — and Native Americans in particular — the Northwest Indian Language Institute together with the Native American Student Union are hosting a free presentation by activist Dennis Banks and the Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Health Fair on Friday.
Banks is known as NowaCumig, the Elder of the Anishinabe Nation, @@yes@@and is also the co-founder of the American Indian Movement. His lecture “National Indian Health Epidemic” @@http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2011/05/12/calendar.html@@will discuss the prevalence of diabetes in Native American communities. Banks will describe The Longest Walk 3 campaign, a 10,000-mile walk across the United States and the history of the American Indian Movement, as well as speak about his latest documentary, “A Good Day to Die.”@@http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Good-Day-To-Die-The-Dennis-Banks-Documentary/130004517013262@@
Earlier in the day, the fair will feature health educators from Lane Community College, YMCA and local organizations. There will also be informational tables on exercise, diet and suggestions on what local foods to eat, as well as diabetes screenings and a blood pressure clinic conducted by the Pre-Pharmacy Club.
“The whole focus is on diabetes prevention and diabetes awareness,” said Janne Underriner, director of the Northwest Indian Language Institute. “And one of the things we will be looking at the health fair is the importance of eating local and organic foods.”@@http://tlc.uoregon.edu/mcnair/symposium/2010/mentors/junderriner.html@@
Underriner says that the fair will also include tribal health programs that will educate attendees on diabetes prevention. But the highlight of the day will be Banks’ appearance, and addressing his diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and his efforts of reversing the effects of the disease.@@http://logos.uoregon.edu/colleagues/underriner_janne.html@@
“(The health fair) is going to be a big sharing — from Dennis to the tribes that come — all the things people are doing for a healthier way of living also combats diabetes,” said Gregory Sutterlict, a doctoral student in linguistics at the University.@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=sutterlict@@
Sutterlict has traveled with Banks for many years. He compares Banks’ goal of spreading the message on diabetes to the rich history of runners and walkers in Indian tribes, who delivered the ideal of “life is sacred” village-to-village. Similarly, Banks’ health campaign — eating healthier, growing, planting and harvesting crops, and daily exercise — is shared nationwide through Longest Walk 3.
“People are contributing in different ways with lots of different backgrounds behind the people who are doing these walks,” Sutterlict said. “And they’re walking together for this one cause of awareness for diabetes.”
Julie Dewsnup, pharmacist and diabetes educator at the University Health Center, will conduct a question-and-answer session at the start of the fair. She hopes this will provide an opportunity to learn about the kinds of diabetic services offered at the Health Center. Inquiries on the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes will be addressed as well.@@http://pages.uoregon.edu/uoshc/aboutus/staff/dewsnup.html@@
“A trend in our population is obesity, which also increases the risk of diabetes,” Dewsnup said. “It’s a good thing for people to be aware of because it’s increasing in our nation every year.”
The Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Health Fair is an informational hub for control and prevention methods that will help eradicate diabetes. Banks’ success of reversing diabetes will motivate others to follow his health campaign.
“These are the skills that will empower your life to live a healthier lifestyle,” Underriner said.
The Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Health Fair is located in the EMU Gumwood, Maple and Oak rooms and will start at 1 p.m. and end at 4 p.m. Dennis Banks’ lecture will start at 7:00 p.m. with a $5 donation in the EMU Ballroom.@@those rooms exist@@