Aboriginal people discuss healthy living

Page 17

Aboriginal people tell their stories about healthy lifestyles in a video presented by the Alberta Cancer Foundation.

The Honouring Our Gift of Life video shares the stories of three Aboriginal families who face the challenge of living well in a fast-paced world by recognizing the four aspects of life: physical, spiritual, mental and emotional.

"We didn't want to focus on cancer or other illness, but rather on healthy living and what our people are doing in regards to that," said Lorraine Deschambeau, clinical lead, Aboriginal liaison program for Lac La Biche Health Services.

Deschambeau was part of the committee that the Alberta Cancer Foundation consulted to make the video. She believes the video is a valuable resource to Aboriginal communities across the province because of its positive approach to chronic diseases like cancer.

"It motivated me to start thinking about a healthy lifestyle and what that means to me. It is a wonderful video that shows how we can live better. It is something Aboriginal people can relate to because there are real people in it," she said.

Eating healthy, having a positive approach to life and getting regular check-ups with their doctor, this is the message of the first family who lives on a Metis settlement. Their daily issues of getting the kids to school, eating a good breakfast and working full-time while keeping it all in balance are something most of us can relate to. The video shows a realistic view of the life that many Aboriginal people live-single parenthood. And it looks at how Aboriginal people are combating stress, fatigue and diet in contemporary times.

The faces of all the people and their families profiled in this 25-minute video are Aboriginal. An interview with Dr. Lindsay Crowshow, a doctor who is Blackfoot, is shown in each segment with the families. Each story touches on diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Dr. Crowshoe encourages people to talk to their doctors about their health concerns and give western medicine a chance to help Aboriginal people.

Traditional medicine is briefly discussed as participants in the video express how both can co-exist to restore health for Aboriginal people with chronic illnesses. Spirituality is shown in a respectful way, as we see one family smudging and praying as a daily commitment to maintaining a healthy life.

The video will premier in its first Aboriginal community at Elizabeth Metis Settlement on April 15. It is also available from the Alberta Cancer Foundation with information on building discussions around the issues raised in the video. Tips for discussion take into account the different views we have of healthier lifestyles at different ages, said Deschambeau. This is a good resource, which will be distributed to First Nation health centres, Metis settlements, friendship centres and regional health authorities, she said.

One bit of health advice from Homer Poitras stands out in the video. "You have to love what the Creator gave you and that means loving yourself."