Native Diabetes Wellness Program 

GOAL 10 Poverty and food insecurity have been identified as risk factors for obesity and diabetes in Native Americans. The Native Diabetes Wellness Program (NDWP) was established in 2004 to reduce health inequities in tribal communities. Principles of practice included cultural humility and communi- ty-led participation. The Eagle Books series for young children, highlighting the wisdom of traditional ways of health, and a K–12 curriculum, Health Is Life in Balance, were instituted in 2006. The interactive Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools curriculum included engagement, exploration, explanation, elab- oration, and evaluation. The Traditional Foods Project for American Indian and Alaska Native Com- munities was instituted by the CDC in 2008. The project included sustainable, ecological approaches

to traditional foods and physical activity, increased access to local foods, and revived and shared stories of healthy traditional practices. Community members were engaged to track the progress of the project. In 2012 and 2013, Traditional Foods Project partners and NDWP staff were invited to present to the CDC Tribal Advisory Committee, which recommended continuing the Traditional Foods Project for a year beyond the 5-year cycle. Partners applied for a sixth year of funding for 2014 by demonstrat- ing their evaluation results and plans to sustain their native food systems. Factors identified as important for the success of the program included: the significance of land; interest in Native American food pathways and food sheds; respect for traditional knowledge; consistency with traditional values; the role of elders as teachers of traditional knowledge fostered intergenerational relationships; traditional foods facilitate dialogue about health; emphasis on planning; the importance of community-driven plan- ning; and sustained efforts beyond the project’s end (CDC, 2016).