I’m telling you my story today to encourage anyone that has an idea, but is uncertain of the details like how to fund it, or where to get help, to start.
I had no money, or credentials when I began Women Warriors a few years ago. What I did have was passion for my group and a willingness to work hard.
Once people know that you are dedicated, and living in the spirit of service, they will contribute their talents and resources to your cause.
I started my journey with Women Warriors on June 8, 2015 at the Lloydminster Native Friendship Centre. I was inspired to start this group after training for a half marathon for Team Diabetes, in honor of my birth father's type 2 diabetes diagnosis, and witnessing that there were few Indigenous women at the gyms that I trained.
Being Metis and witnessing the health issues of my family, and my own emotional journey of obesity from childhood to early adulthood was my why. I knew the despair of hating my body and wanting to make healthy lifestyle changes, but not knowing where to start, or being intimidated to walk into a gym.
My introduction to the reality of Indigenous people’s health, other than my family’s history, started with reading statistics about type 2 diabetes on the Diabetes Canada website, “Diabetes rates are three to five times higher among Aboriginal adults than the non-Aboriginal population.
High rates of diabetes among Aboriginal people are attributed to many factors, including genetic predisposition, decreased physical activity, increased obesity and dietary changes from traditional unprocessed food to high-calorie processed foods, among others."
I recall reading this Globe and Mail article that alerted me to the disproportionate rate of type 2 diabetes and the serious health implications this meant for Indigenous women:
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“Over all, the incidence (the frequency of development of diabetes in a population over a given time period) and the prevalence (the number of people currently suffering from the disease) were both about four times higher among aboriginal women and 2.5 times higher among aboriginal men."
Furthermore the article states, “the age of onset has serious implications; diabetes is one of the principal causes of blindness, amputations, kidney failure and heart disease.”
My focus of Women Warriors program was type 2 diabetes awareness and prevention. Our group, composed of 10 Indigenous women and myself, met on a weekly basis to try different types of fitness classes, including Zumba, Yoga, Piyo, Turbo-kick, Krav Maga self-defense, and circuit training. Also, we had a talking circle to share our health stories including our fears, barriers and celebrate our successes.
My first group I met Ashley; she had received an unexpected type 2 diabetes diagnosis, and the diabetes nurse referred her. Over the course of 8 weeks she lost a total of 20 lbs, and learned how to control her blood sugars. She was exactly whom I had hoped to help by starting this program.
Over the course of six month, I worked with my collaborator, Dr. Sonja Wicklum, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine of the University of Calgary to obtain funding. We received an Alberta Government Recreation and Physical Activity grant starting January 2016 and continued to December 2017. It was an incredible gift to be able to offer free fitness classes and nutrition education to at least 100 women in my community of Lloydminster.
I believe that health promotion programs, like Women Warriors, benefit from being run by community members. It helped that I was not part of an institution like the health care system or social services because my participants knew I did not want anything from them, except for their step count and regular attendance.
It allowed my participants to feel safe. There are very few spaces in our society where Indigenous women feel safe. In my opinion, the most important aspect of this program was creating a culturally safe space for women to relieve stress, form connections and socialize, and learn about health, without fear of being judged or an expectation of results.
From humble beginnings Women Warriors is now expanding to Calgary, through the City of Calgary with a start date in April. Onion Lake Cree Nation has obtained funding for three sessions to run on their reserve in 2018.