Cultural continuity, traditional Indigenous language, and diabetes in Alberta First Nations: a mixed methods study
Abstract 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 Blackf...
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ftbiomed:oai:biomedcentral.com:s12939-014-0092-4 2023-05-15T16:14:00+02:00 Cultural continuity, traditional Indigenous language, and diabetes in Alberta First Nations: a mixed methods study Oster, Richard T Grier, Angela Lightning, Rick Mayan, Maria J Toth, Ellen L 2014-10-19 http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/13/1/92 en eng BioMed Central Ltd. http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/13/1/92 Copyright 2014 Oster et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. Indigenous population Diabetes mellitus North America Language Qualitative research Cross sectional analysis Research 2014 ftbiomed 2014-11-02T00:54:25Z Abstract 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. Other/Unknown Material First Nations BioMed Central Canada |
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English |
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Indigenous population Diabetes mellitus North America Language Qualitative research Cross sectional analysis |
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Indigenous population Diabetes mellitus North America Language Qualitative research Cross sectional analysis Oster, Richard T Grier, Angela Lightning, Rick Mayan, Maria J Toth, Ellen L Cultural continuity, traditional Indigenous language, and diabetes in Alberta First Nations: a mixed methods study |
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Indigenous population Diabetes mellitus North America Language Qualitative research Cross sectional analysis |
description |
Abstract 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. |
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Other/Unknown Material |
author |
Oster, Richard T Grier, Angela Lightning, Rick Mayan, Maria J Toth, Ellen L |
author_facet |
Oster, Richard T Grier, Angela Lightning, Rick Mayan, Maria J Toth, Ellen L |
author_sort |
Oster, Richard T |
title |
Cultural continuity, traditional Indigenous language, and diabetes in Alberta First Nations: a mixed methods study |
title_short |
Cultural continuity, traditional Indigenous language, and diabetes in Alberta First Nations: a mixed methods study |
title_full |
Cultural continuity, traditional Indigenous language, and diabetes in Alberta First Nations: a mixed methods study |
title_fullStr |
Cultural continuity, traditional Indigenous language, and diabetes in Alberta First Nations: a mixed methods study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Cultural continuity, traditional Indigenous language, and diabetes in Alberta First Nations: a mixed methods study |
title_sort |
cultural continuity, traditional indigenous language, and diabetes in alberta first nations: a mixed methods study |
publisher |
BioMed Central Ltd. |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/13/1/92 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
First Nations |
genre_facet |
First Nations |
op_relation |
http://www.equityhealthj.com/content/13/1/92 |
op_rights |
Copyright 2014 Oster et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. |
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1765999838871158784 |