In My Community

In our lifetimes, we have watched family and community members struggle to live with diabetes. So it is with great urgency that the Awakening the Spirit Team asks Native people to gain the knowledge and skills to prevent diabetes, and to live in holistic balance with diabetes for a long, healthy life.

On a spiritual level, Native people understand we are responsible for taking care of our bodies first. Positive lifestyle choices can help our families, our communities, and ourselves.

Native communities should join forces to prevent and manage diabetes. Remember that we are not alone. Lessons learned through traditional ways of living and the strength we have as a people are effective tools to fight diabetes.

Awakening the Spirit Subcommittee

Chair, Shondra McCage, MPH, CHES: Chickasaw

Chenoa Bah Stillwell-Jensen, MS: Dine

Gary Ferguson, ND: Aleut

Polly M. Olsen: Yakama

Rahnia Parker: Yup'ik

JoAnn Lehner, RN: Oglala Lakota

Margaret Knight: Laguna Pueblo

Kimberly Johnson, MPH: Gagbrieleno/Tongva 

Randi Rourke Barreiro: Mohawk

Lancer Stephens, PhD: Witchita/Creek

Kelli Wilson, MS, RD, LD: Kickapoo/Seminole/Creek