Hello everyone!
Our
names are Carolyn and Mytchel and we are excited to say that we have been given
the opportunity to participate in a pilot program with the Four Directions
Aboriginal Student Center this year with Queen’s Health Outreach. Located on
campus, the Four Directions Center is a place devoted to teaching and celebrating
the Aboriginal heritage. At Four Directions, we had the opportunity to work
with several local high school students, learning about and exploring
Aboriginal culture.
Diabetes
is an ongoing problem in the Aboriginal community, so our role with QHO has been
to educate students at Four Directions about diabetes prevention, treatment,
and complications. We approached this topic by generating discussion with the
students about how the customs related to Aboriginal culture are applied to the
prevalence of diabetes. We also implemented activities to encourage critical
thinking about risk reduction strategies that can be incorporated into
traditional cultural practices.
Working
with students at Four Directions was a rich opportunity for cultural exchange.
It is our hope that QHO and Four Directions will be able to maintain this
relationship for years to come!
Mytchel
& Carolyn