CRCAIH Hosts Health Summit in Bemidji

The Collaborative Research Center for American Indian Health is building a plan for better health. At a health summit in Bemidji today, researchers and health experts discussed Native American health problems and possible solutions.

The CRCAIH summit originally started in response to growing health problems among American Indians. Now, health experts and community members are taking a stand against diseases common among Native Americans in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

University of Colorado Professor Spero Manson says these diseases are caused by lifestyle choices in Native American communities, like poor diet and lack of exercise. The goal of the summit is to research these health problems so that Native Americans can find solutions by working together.

Some speakers at the summit presented the facts, while others, like Billy Mills, were shining examples of conquering chronic disease. Mills said, “I’m here to show the journey of how I’ve taken control of my diabetes and try to choreograph my journey in this rapidly changing world.”

This is the second year that there’s been a health summit, but it has already grown in popularity. Organizers of the event said this year’s event was streamed online nationwide, and that these health issues are problems for all Native Americans, not just those in the Northern plains.

Next year’s health summit is scheduled to take place in Park City, South Dakota on June 10th and 11th.