Federal government seeks Indigenous views on diabetes
People can do a survey, participate in a virtual circle, or even write a song about the health condition
Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services want Nunavimmiut to participate in the creation of the National Framework for Diabetes. (File photo by Cedric Gallant)
The federal government is establishing a national framework for diabetes and is asking Indigenous communities throughout Canada to contribute through a survey and public consultations.
“Inuit who participate in the meetings can share their vision of how diabetes should be treated for them,” said Alain Ishac, a diabetes prevention officer with Nunavik’s regional board of health and social services.
The creation of a national diabetes framework is a result of a federal law passed in 2021.
People can participate through survey, virtual engagement circles or artistically, the National Indigenous Diabetes Association said in a news release this week.
By participating in the research, Inuit can say how they want to be approached regarding diabetes.
“The whole project is not just about Inuit, but if Inuit don’t share their vision on this platform, their vision will be excluded,” Ishac said in a phone interview.
Ishac said in Montreal, for example, health professionals have a specific approach to diabetes. Indigenous people might have a different point of view and their approach might be more community-based.
According to Ishac, almost 30 per cent of the population in Canada is either diabetic or pre-diabetic, which means having a higher than normal blood sugar level but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.
That percentage is not as high in Nunavik, but data suggests an upward trend in cases, said Ishac.
People can take the survey in English or French until May 30.
There are four virtual engagement circles scheduled for May.
The first pair are on May 16, with one in English at 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the other in English with French translation 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The second pair of sessions are May 18, with the first at 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., in English with French translation. The second, at 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., is English-only.
The National Indigenous Diabetes Association has created an Eventbrite page where people can register.
Participants can also share ideas through stories, are or music by sending an email to nationalengagement@nada.ca.
I’ll start by saying that it’s possible that such incentives might one day have Inuit design an Inuit specific insulin. Should I also say joking? This whole idea is born out of make work for healthcare workers who otherwise sit at the board office doing sweet nothing while waiting for their vacation time. In the mean time some surgeons in Montreal are asking different cultures about how they would like their heart surgery done, maybe they could even used an ulu, instead of a surgical knife, if that would be requested by Inuit. People please get real, there’s more ways to use resources and money, and even time.
I see a blend of ethnic corporatism and standpoint epistemology. The former serves societal cohesion, the latter emphasizes the primacy of personal experience and perspective as a form of knowledge.
Heart surgery with an Ulu is funny, though it’s not the intention or spirit of people “choosing their own treatment” it does appear to follow from the radical subjectivity implied here.
My year old daughter had covid delta variant and I was told to clear her airways by sucking it out the traditional way. I asked for a snot sucker instead. They really think that I’d risk getting covid to “keep it traditional”.. so I see the point he’s making. I wouldn’t do it if she had a cold if there are tools available to do it safely and without me having to miss more work. It’s bad enough as is that KI makes me miss 3/4s of my work days already.
Fascinating story, Mr. Miyagi.
My feeling is that for some Westerners and Inuit “tradition,” as it is used in this context, is synonymous with a golden age of life in perfect harmony with the natural world. This is mostly illusion, a romantic notion incongruent with how life was. Yet the fantasy offers an escape from the drudgery of modernity, an alienating condition filled with artificial environments, foods, and relationships continuously pulling us from the natural world we evolved as part of for millions of years.
What does “Indigenous views on diabetes” even mean?
Your pancreas does not make enough insulin to naturally maintain blood sugar … diabetes.
Food insecurity, corporate control, land claims settlements is all big talks. Go down to the lowest point where it can be understood. Instead of big talks.
Ishac almost sounds threatening by their statements “ The whole project is not just about Inuit, but if Inuit don’t share their vision on this platform, their vision will be excluded,” last I checked you can’t threatened your way into getting community feedback!
Maybe they need to find a different day job rather than bullying people around to get their research submitted to the gouvernement.
As I see it this is mostly about perception and optics. It is a way for the government to say we engaged the Inuit community, we listened to your voice. By refusing to impose our model we eschewed ‘colonialism.’
Is there value in that?
In this day and age these rituals have become a necessity. Do they effect outcomes in some way? I don’t know. Of course those who benefit from the delivery of these sacraments will tell you they do.