THOROLD, Ontario – An upcoming event is causing a great stir in the world of Indigenous diabetes wellness. On Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28, 2022, the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle (IDHC) is hosting a virtual international conference to which all are invited and all are welcome. And many are stepping forward.

“This conference marks 25 years of work invoking the return of Indigenous diabetes wellness” points out Roslynn Baird, Executive Director, IDHC. Past themes of IDHC conferences were Elders’ teachings, Western and Traditional medicine, youth culture, gestational diabetes programming, men’s health, water teachings, and Traditional foods and food sovereignty, proving IDHC is forward thinking and well ahead of its time promoting Indigenous ways and knowledge.

Diabetes was virtually unknown among Indigenous Peoples in Canada until the 1940s. Between 2001/02 and 2014/15, First Nations people had a higher incidence of diabetes compared with other people in Ontario. Incidence rates were similar among First Nations people living in and outside of First Nations communities. IDHC has contributed its share to carve out a wellness pathway. Some encouraging trends are emerging, including a slowing rate of growth in the incidence of diabetes and declines in the risk of major complications. However, gaps in outcomes between First Nations and other people persist. These gaps require addressing the social determinants of health that fuel the epidemic, stress the need for continued service and highlight the important work of the IDHC.

The Anishinabek Nation Takes Conference Sponsorship Role

“The Anishinabek Nation is thrilled to sponsor $2,500 toward the conference — specifically to take its place at the ‘Land’ sponsorship level” marked Stephanie Peplinski, Community Health Programs Coordinator, for the Anishinabek Nation. Sponsors at this level receive early access to conference recordings, the bestselling book “Braiding Sweetgrass,” the IDHC Wellness Bundle and more.

Event Takeaways Include:

• Celebrating 25 Years of Collaborations, Partnerships and Community
• Highlighting Diabetes and Wellness Research in Communities
• Making Research Accessible to Communities
• Equating Indigenous Knowledge Alongside Research
• Transforming Knowledge into Practice

Conference Sponsorship

Sponsors at any level support capacity building in Indigenous communities and gain international visibility with peers. The IDHC will provide Wellness Bundles comprised of Traditional food, medicines, tea and educational information pertaining to diabetes awareness and prevention to the first 250 conference attendees having submitted event evaluations.

The IDHC invites you to follow the lead of the Anishinabek Nation and participate in, or be a sponsor of, this strategic conference. Learn more about the conference on the IDHC website at https://idhc.life/about-our-organization/annual-conference/.

Be a part of this exciting conference that profiles relevant and timely research for frontline workers in health programs and services!

About the Anishinabek Nation

The Anishinabek Nation established the Union of Ontario Indians (UOI) as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI was established because the Anishinabek Nation did not legally exist and a legal entity was required to enter into legally-binding agreements. The Anishinabek Nation is a political advocate for 39 member First Nations across Ontario. The Anishinabek Nation is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.

The Anishinabek Nation:

• delivers a variety of programs and services, such as Health, Social Development, Education, Policy and Communications, Economic Development, Lands and Resources, Labour and Market Development, Restoration of Jurisdiction, and Legal, and does this with a complement of approximately 100 staff members;
• provides the necessary forum for collective First Nation action on individual and collective issues by way of resolution from Chiefs-in-Assembly which provides direction to the Grand Council Chief; and
• is governed by a Board of Directors and has a Grand Council Chief and four Regional Deputy Grand Council Chiefs who carry the day-to-day leadership responsibilities.

About the IDHC

The IDHC provides programs focusing on diabetes education, prevention and management in Indigenous communities in Ontario, both on and off-reserve — serving First Nation, Métis and

Inuit communities. Facilitating community capacity-building, building upon traditional strengths and supporting community-driven programming are the IDHC’s core concerns.

For additional information, please contact:
Autumn Watson, Director of Programs
Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle (IDHC)
T. 1-888-514-1370 C. 513-697-6604: E. DirectorofPrograms@idhc.life
www.idhc.life