The Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Program announces the development of a DVD to educate our Aboriginal population regarding cerebrovascular disease, including stroke and blood pressure management. Funding for the project was received from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. "Next to cardiac and cancer mortality, stroke is the third leading cause of death in Northwestern Ontario´€ explains Dr. David Howse, TBRHSC Neurologist. Conventional education programs have proven ineffective and, at times, inappropriate for this population, so awareness of risk factors for stroke within Aboriginal [First Nations, Native peoples] communities in Northwestern Ontario is limited. It was decided that improved educational resources for healthcare providers would positively impact the health status of Aboriginal people. With the Aboriginal percentage of the population substantially greater in Northwestern Ontario (13.9%) than in the Province (1.7%), there is a growing incidence of risk factors for cerebrovascular disease. High blood pressure is 2.8 times more prevalent in Aboriginal men and 2.5 times more prevalent in Aboriginal women than non-Aboriginal Canadians. Correspondingly, Aboriginal people in Canada have a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia, diabetes, obesity and tobacco use. Using three presentations - Ojibwe, Oji-Cree, and English - we follow Brenda´€™s brief journey through a treatment centre to understand how stroke and blood pressure are affected by smoking, diet, exercise, alcohol, and medication.
In collaboration with thirteen representatives of the Nishnawbe-Aski, Grand Council Treaty #3, Union of Ontario Indians and `Independent First Nation, and six healthcare professionals familiar with the Aboriginal population, the project was undertaken. Common themes were identified: use of Elders; Medicine Wheel colours (white, yellow, red, and black); mother earth; story-telling; community environment; use of drums; use of water; visual aids; holistic; humour; and non-intrusive production values."--
Notes
Title from DVD container (in Ojibwe and English). Language of the DVD is Ojibwe and dubbed as English and Oji-Cree.