Native American Cooks Learn About Managing Diabetes

 

Forty Native American cooks took part in the Intertribal Solutions annual cooking class sponsored by AARP, The American Association of Indian Physicians (AAIP) and the four federally recognized tribes in Kansas. The class is held in November each year to call attention to diabetes as November is Native American Heritage Month and Diabetes Awareness Month. The cooks learned how to make a healthy, nutritional meal using traditional indigenous foods.

 

New this year was an exercise break built into the day between learning about diabetes and how to avoid or control it and the cooking experience itself with award-winning Chef Richard Hetzler. Hetzler, who was previously with Mitsitam Café at the Smithsonian Institute, taught the participants how to prepare food in a way that makes it healthy and delicious.

 

“The addition of the exercise break led by Misty Lechner with the Iowa tribe, reinforced the importance of both diet and exercise in managing diabetes,” said AARP Outreach Director Andrea Bozarth. “The session was well-received by the participants, so we’ll plan to continue it next year.”

 

While the event is held at the Prairie Band Potawatomi Casino in Mayetta, it includes members of all four Kansas tribes – the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Kickapoo Nation of Kansas, the Sac and Fox Nation, and Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

 

“As a result of the classes in past years, participants have made changes in both lifestyle and cooking habits,” said AARP Kansas Director Maren Turner. “Fitness centers and walking trails have been developed by some of the tribes to encourage physical activity.”