Cultural continuity, traditional Indigenous language, and diabetes in Alberta First Nations: a mixed methods study

International Journal for Equity in Health

Ellen L Toth⁴  Maria J Mayan²  Rick Lightning¹  Angela Grier³  Richard T Oster⁴ 

[1] Ermineskin Cree Nation, Maskwacis T0C 1N0, AB, Canada;Faculty of Extension, University of Alberta, 2281 Enterprise Square, 10230 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton T5J 4P6, AB, Canada;Piikani Blackfoot Nation, Brocket T0K 0H0, AB, Canada;Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, 4100 Research Transition Facility, 8308 114 Street, Edmonton T6G 2V2, AB, Canada

关键词: Cross sectional analysis;    Qualitative research;    Language;    North America;    Diabetes mellitus;    Indigenous population;   

Others  :  1137597
DOI  :  10.1186/s12939-014-0092-4

 received in 2014-06-13, accepted in 2014-10-03,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Introduction

We used an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach to study the association between cultural continuity, self-determination, and diabetes prevalence in First Nations in Alberta, Canada.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative description where we interviewed 10 Cree and Blackfoot leaders (members of Chief and Council) from across the province to understand cultural continuity, self-determination, and their relationship to health and diabetes, in the Alberta First Nations context. Based on the qualitative findings, we then conducted a cross-sectional analysis using provincial administrative data and publically available data for 31 First Nations communities to quantitatively examine any relationship between cultural continuity and diabetes prevalence.

Results

Cultural continuity, or “being who we are”, is foundational to health in successful First Nations. Self-determination, or “being a self-sufficient Nation”, stems from cultural continuity and is seriously compromised in today’s Alberta Cree and Blackfoot Nations. Unfortunately, First Nations are in a continuous struggle with government policy. The intergenerational effects of colonization continue to impact the culture, which undermines the sense of self-determination, and contributes to diabetes and ill health. Crude diabetes prevalence varied dramatically among First Nations with values as low as 1.2% and as high as 18.3%. Those First Nations that appeared to have more cultural continuity (measured by traditional Indigenous language knowledge) had significantly lower diabetes prevalence after adjustment for socio-economic factors (p =0.007).

Conclusions

First Nations that have been better able to preserve their culture may be relatively protected from diabetes.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Oster et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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