News

Kenora, ON — In an effort to raise awareness about the diabetes epidemic sweeping across Treaty #3 territory, Grand Council Treaty #3 produced a dynamic new video to encourage viewers to live a healthy life and better understand the chronic disease.

The video, titled Diabetes in Our Nation was created with funding from Indigenous Services Canada through the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, and features people from Treaty #3 First Nations. The video was shot over a number of months this past winter and features insight and advice about the disease from a variety of different perspectives.

The four-minute video, which is posted to the Grand Council Treaty #3 website and to social media will also be shared with each of the Treaty #3 First Nations and regional health organizations. The video introduces individuals from Treaty #3 who share their personal stories living with diabetes. The video includes links to the full extended interviews for viewers who want to hear the whole story.

“This is an important service video that needs to be shared across our territories. Diabetes has affected someone we know in our First Nations,” said Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh, Grand Chief of Grand Council Treaty #3 who appears in the video. “The prevalence of diabetes in our territories alone is more than twice as high compared to the overall Ontario average. This is a serious matter and we need to continue to fight this epidemic that is devastating our communities and our families.”

Participants in the video share their personal journeys living with the chronic disease and encourage others to see their health care provider to get their blood sugar levels tested. Regular physical activity and healthy eating are highlighted as ways to avoid getting Type 2 diabetes and also important in the control of the disease for those who are living with diabetes.

The personal stories encourage viewers to take steps to be healthy and to understand that diabetes, although a disease to be avoided where possible can be managed through health lifestyle choices.

Because of the prevalence of diabetes among Grand Council Treaty #3 First Nations, Grand Council Treaty #3 wanted to create a video that featured people and stories from their region to better reach the population with a health message in a more personal way.

People were recruited for the video from all parts of the Treaty #3 territory through the regional health organizations that work in the First Nations.  Each person in the video was interviewed and excerpts used to create a short PSA-type video suitable for posting on social media.

The longer interviews with each participant are linked to the four-minute PSA version.

 

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For more information please contact: Janine Seymour, B.A., J.D., LL.M, Political Advisor to Ogichidaa Francis Kavanaugh 807.464.1261 (cell)

Grand Council Treaty #3’s overall goal is the protection, preservation and enhancement of Inherent and Treaty Rights. Grand Council Treaty #3 is 55,000 sq. miles spanning from west of Thunder Bay to north of Sioux Lookout, along the international border, to the province of Manitoba. It is made up of 28 First Nation communities, with a total population of approximately 25,000.