First Nations Voice

PAGE 4 • MARCH 2013 "WORKING WITH ONE ANOTHER" - Edith Turner, Aboriginal Liason Officer, WPS Tansi! Greetings from your local Aboriginal Liaison Officer in the Winnipeg Police Service. I love my job but wow! I have been very busy in my new position this past year. I have been able to attend numerous fascinating events in the community and met a lot of great people! One of the best parts is that I get to catch up with a lot of people from various communities whom I haven't seen in years. Isn't it funny that somebody always knows someone that you know? All you have to do is just tell them your last name and they know which community you are from. I find that amazing. With all of the things going on involving Aboriginals, I have also had the opportunity to meet with a number of elders. They felt comfort knowing that we both knew some of the same families from different communities. I've had the opportunity to tell them about my position within the WPS and what my job is all about. Not bad for a rez kid who grew up on the Misipawistik Cree Nation eh? (LOL…for those of you who still don't know, that's short for "Laugh Out Loud"). I want to talk very briefly about something that is important to all of us. During the past couple of months, there have been numerous marches, demonstrations and flash mobs as a result of the "Idle No More" movement. The WPS has assisted at these events by providing various services to the public, with safety being paramount. For instance, our members have provided parade escorts to ensure that all participants are safe from on-coming traffic and to maintain peace. At times this has caused a strain on our resources as sometimes people have decided to take to the streets without any notice being given to us. This may seem like a good way of making the public aware of the cause, but when we aren't notified and allowed to plan with the organizers, we have to take our members away from other important calls to handle this new hazard that has been created. The WPS recognizes that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives all Canadians the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. As a member of the Diversity Relations Section, I believe that it is a priority to have dialogue with the organizers of any event and to meet prior to it. The WPS is available upon request to assist in organizing a safe event. We're not here to prevent messages from being conveyed; we're here to help facilitate them. As I have always said, "my door is open". This works both ways. I want to assure you that the WPS is committed to having a better understanding of the community's perspective on this issue. The members of the WPS are currently being educated on the history of the "Idle No More" movement with respect to the Treaties and the impact of Bill C-45 on all Canadians. This includes presentations with guest speakers from within the Aboriginal community. We all want to see a brighter future for Aboriginals. By working with one another, instead of working separately, we can get this done. Meegwetch! MAKING SENSE OF DIABETES Diabetes now affects more than nine million Canadians and the rates are constantly climbing. Health Canada reports Type 2 diabetes is three to five times higher in First Nations people than in the general population; some healthcare professionals describe it as an epidemic. Simply, diabetes occurs when your body doesn't properly process sugar from the carbohydrates in food. Insulin, produced by the pancreas, is a messenger that tells bloodstream cells to absorb the sugar for energy. In diabetes, there is a lack of insulin, or the body isn't using insulin correctly. This stores too much sugar in our blood, which is called elevated blood glucose. Type 1 diabetics have pancreases that produce no insulin. Type 2 diabetics, the most common, can produce insulin but their bodies can't absorb the sugars from the blood. Pregnant women can develop temporary gestational diabetes. If gestational diabetes is not treated it increases the risk of developing diabetes in both mother and child. Unchangeable risk factors for diabetes include family history and being a member of a high risk group, such as First Nations people. Fortunately, lifestyle factors that can be changed are poor diet, physical inactivity, obesity and smoking. If you are at risk of diabetes, challenge yourself to make better eating choices and exercise habits. Even if you already have diabetes, eating healthy and exercising regularly can lessen its severity. When lifestyle modifications are not enough, physicians may prescribe medications, in pill form or injections. Pills make the body more sensitive to the insulin we produce naturally, or help the body in producing more insulin. Insulin can be injected at mealtime or once a day to work slowly at reducing blood glucose levels. Diabetic treatment can be complex, so it's important to understand it. Your pharmacist is a great resource and can help you manage your diabetes. A pharmacist can ensure you're on appropriate medication, with minimal side effects and maximum benefit. He or she can teach you how to check blood glucose (sugar levels) and inject medications properly. A pharmacist can also provide information on proper nutrition and exercise. Barret Procyshyn

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