History
The Assembly of First Nations declared 1995 as the Year of First Nations and Diabetes. In the same year, the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association (NADA) was formed as a result of a decision reached at the 3rd International Conference on Diabetes and Indigenous Peoples with active participation of the SUGAR (Strategies for Undermining Glucose in Aboriginal Races) Group. The SUGAR Group played the crucial role of advocating for the formation of NADA and sought to lay its foundation.
The decision to form NADA was an important step forward in addressing the diabetes epidemic that was beginning to unravel in Aboriginal communities. At that time Noella Depew and Alethea Kewayosh were instrumental in working towards establishing a national Aboriginal organization with a mandate to reduce the deadly effects that diabetes was inflicting on Aboriginal people, families and communities.
The first planning session in laying NADA’s foundation was held in a cottage on the shores of Lake Winnipeg near Victoria Beach. The initial planning committee consisted of Noella and Alethea with Cynthia Abbott-Homell, Kerri Acland, Linda Brazeau, and Susan Roe-Finlay. This was the first meeting in which NADA’s structure, goals and mandate were tentatively outlined. The planning committee soon expanded to embrace more experts from various backgrounds to add value to NADA’s mandate.
In 1996, NADA received a grant from Health Canada with in-kind assistance from Manitoba Health to set up an office. NADA’s first office was at 800 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The first interim Executive Director Linda Brazeau served from October, 1996 to the end of December 1998.
NADA has since become a very active player in diabetes awareness & prevention in Aboriginal communities by providing much needed diabetes resources and information. NADA has also hosted national conferences to raise awareness of diabetes among Aboriginal People and share successes and has partnered with other organizations in support of specific projects aimed at reducing diabetes-related complications.
A chronology of years (1980-1995) preceding formation of NADA:
1980: Urban Native Diabetes Support with Addictions Counseling began in Toronto.
1983-84: Aboriginal Women of Manitoba (AWM) under the leadership of Pauline Busch, began addressing diabetes. Interpreters working at the Native Services Department at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg noticed that they were frequently called to interpret for patients newly diagnosed with diabetes, or for rehabilitation after amputations. The interpreters alerted the Aboriginal Women of Manitoba of their experiences and concerns with patients. The AWM began work by doing a diabetes survey in the communities. Interest and support for diabetes initiatives were expressed by some communities that had noticed increasing incidence of people living with diabetes.
1984: Conference entitled “A Traditional Native Approach to Diabetes Balance” was held in Winnipeg.
1986: Alethea Kewayosh was hired in southern Ontario as Native Outreach Worker by the Ontario division of the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA).
1986-87: S.U.G.A.R. Group (Strategies for Undermining Glucose in Aboriginal Races) was formed through the Aboriginal Women of Manitoba (AWM). The S.U.G.A.R. Group was a networking group whose members came from the AWM; First Nations communities; tribal councils; Health Sciences Centre Native Services; St. Boniface Hospital Native Services, Medical Services Branch, Manitoba Health; Mount Carmel Clinic; Northern Stores; CDA, Northern Medical Unit, DER Children’s Hospital and Aboriginal Elders.
1987: Health Care and Cultural Change: the Indian Experience in the Central Sub-Arctic. T.K. Young, Toronto Press.
National Native Diabetes Education Working Group initiated by Health Canada. The committee was chaired by Dr. Jean Steckle from Health Canada as well as Donna Lilly, CDA, Cynthia Abbott-Homell (Health Canada), Noella Depew (Manitoba Health), Alethea Kewayosh (CDA), Theresa Harper (CHR - St. Theresa Point, MB), Rosella Kinoshimeg, (Wekwemikong, Manitoulin Island), Dr. Louis T. Montour (Kahnawake), Dr. Irwin Antone, Kathy George, (Six Nations), Shawnee Williams (B.C), Louise Aubrey (HC), Linda Brazeau, (Aboriginal Women of Manitoba, and Native Services, HSC).
B.C. Working Groups formed.
Links with Native American Research and Training Centre in Arizona was established through Alethea Kewayosh (Canada) and Dr. Robert Young (U.S.)
1988: Southern Ontario Diabetes Group began.
At Aboriginal Women of Manitoba Assembly a resolution was passed supporting a diabetes initiative. The AWM representatives then did a presentation about diabetes at the AGM of the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC).
1989: Duncan Declaration on Standards of Care and Education for Aboriginal People with Diabetes was written by the National Native Diabetes Education Working Group.
1990: First International Native Diabetes Conference, Minneapolis, USA. Dr. Jean Steckle was instrumental in getting the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) of Health Canada to attend the First International Conference. It was at a meeting with the Health Canada ADM, Alethea Kewayosh, and S.U.G.A.R. Group members that an agreement was made to fund a diabetes coordinator at the Assembly of First Nations. Assembly of First Nations Diabetes Program was initiated, and Alethea Kewayosh was hired as the first National Aboriginal Diabetes Coordinator.
It was at this conference that strong contacts were made with the other countries that included Australia and New Zealand. A post conference meeting was held and delegates from Hawaii expressed concern about their rising diabetes rates and asked if the next conference could be held in Hawaii. The decision was made to hold the next international Native diabetes conference in Hawaii in 1993- our international conferences were beginning to take shape.
1991: Resolution passed by Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) supporting S.U.G.A.R. Group’s diabetes initiative. On-going activities of the S.U.G.A.R. Group included committee and workshop participation, panel presentations, referrals, and networking.
1992: Aboriginal Clinical Practice Standards was presented to the Canadian Conference on Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Atlantic Region of Medical Services Branch hired a Diabetes Coordinator (Laurie Nicholas).
1993: National Framework for Diabetes Prevention was initiated by the National Native Diabetes Education Working Group.
The 2nd International Conference on Diabetes and Native Peoples was held in Honolulu, Hawaii.
AWM, S.U.G.A.R. Group and AFN Diabetes Coordinator made a presentation to the AMC expressing concern about diabetes and the need to get information to communities. There was a working agreement to work jointly with the AMC Health Committee on an Outreach Program (coordinator position), however, funding was not obtained for the position.
S.U.G.A.R. Group and the AMC Health Committee also made an agreement to make a joint bid for the 3rd International Diabetes Conference.
Native Diabetes Education Curriculum was developed in Kahnawake.
1995: International Conference on Diabetes & Indigenous Peoples was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The S.U.G.A.R. Group members and Alethea Kewayosh, National Diabetes Coordinator, were instrumental in getting the conference in Winnipeg. They planned the conference, forming the CCPC (Canadian Conference Planning Committee). The S.U.G.A.R. Group hosted the conference jointly with the AFN and AMC. The Canadian Conference Planning Committee members were from: S.U.G.A.R. Group, AFN, AMC, Health Canada, CDA.
S.U.G.A.R. Group, and Alethea Kewayosh, and CCPC obtained the assistance of the AMC to have the first Friday in May annually as “National Aboriginal Diabetes Awareness Day” by the AFN. S.U.G.A.R. Group and Alethea Kewayosh and CCPC also initiated the process to have 1995 declared as the Year of Diabetes & Aboriginal Peoples through the First Nations Diabetes Declaration.
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About The NADA Logo
Currently
NADA is a member of the Diabetes Council of Canada, and is representing its members at the national level.
NADA is involved in the development of the National Diabetes Strategy.
NADA is represented on the National Diabetes Surveillance System (NDSS).
NADA chairs the Aboriginal Diabetes Working Group of the NDSS.
NADA represents our members on the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative Steering Committee.
NADA makes every effort to fulfill requests at the local level to support communities in their diabetes initiatives.