The Osage Nation Communities of Excellence Department received $10,000 from the Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation Program to participate in their mentoring project on effective policy, systems, and environmental changes to combat chronic diseases.
Communities funded under the project will work collaboratively to develop policy, systems and environmental changes that will promote and sustain community- or school-based health promotion prevention initiatives. The initiatives selected by the Osage Nation were community gardens in school areas and nutrition education.
Through this partnership with the Cherokee Nation we have begun a strong alliance with the Osage Nation Head Start Program, UCAP Head Start Program, Pawhuska K-2, Wynona K-4, and the Osage Nation Cultural Center. Initiatives have been implementing raised bed gardens, sending Head Start teachers to “Growing Classroom” training, having community information meetings, and hosting a mini-summit on Sept. 22 for families.
Workshops will be centered on living a healthy life with topics on nutrition with Osage nutritionist Julie Miller and a nutritionist from the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC). Other workshops will include Living Stress-free, Growing gardens, and Healthy Living Lifestyle.
The $10,000 received from the Cherokee Nation has allowed us to create a solid base for our Healthy Living Program. Through partnerships with other tribal departments and community groups we have been able to make the most of our resources.
When addressing the causes, treatment, and cures of chronic diseases, our best approach is in prevention and education. We hope to continue to offer the best practices to the tribe and community members when combating Chronic diseases.
