[ Singing in native language,
drums beating ] STUDI: At the turn
of the last century, Native people
lived off the land, hunting, fishing, gathering,
and farming. As times changed,
our way of life changed. [ Men shouting,
sticks rattling ] Many of us were not
as physically active as we used to be. Our land was not used to grow,
gather, and hunt traditional foods,
as in the past. The changes to our culture
have had a devastating impact. [ Men shouting,
sticks rattling ] Our tribal
and reservation communities have suffered a dramatic rise
in illness from a dangerous disease --
type 2 diabetes. [ Players shouting ] Today, Native American
communities are on the move. Traditional foods
and physical activity are a way
to talk about health -- our health,
based on our traditions. MAN:
Don't let her up now. Sticks up!
Sticks up! Yeah! Oh! [ Players shouting,
sticks rattling ] BLOSSOM:
Oh. Hey, it's Wes. -MAN: Hey, Wes!
-MAN #2: Hey, Wes! MAN:
Play with us! STUDI:
Let's see. MAN:
Hey, Wes! BLOSSOM: We women are running
them into the ground, Wes. They need your skills out there. STUDI: I could use the exercise,
but no, no, no, no. MALCOLM: Don't worry, Studi.
We made the pole short. I bet you score quick today.
[ Laughs ] STUDI:
[ Laughs ] Okay.
All right. -You're on.
-BLOSSOM: [ Laughs ] [ Players shouting,
sticks rattling ] MALCOLM: Looks like
a pretty young bunch, Wes. STUDI: Yeah.
Well, that'll be their downfall. MALCOLM:
[ Laughs ] [ Players cheering ] [ Players shouting,
sticks rattling ] STUDI:
[ Laughs ] Ah!
[ Laughs ] [ Grunts ]
Ah! [ Players cheering ] Ha! Hey! [ Sticks rattling ] The old man's still got it,
Blossom! Ha! You're in trouble now! [ Laughter ] GLENDA: We have wonderful food
for everybody. STUDI:
Looks healthy. Looks like it
might taste good, too. MALCOLM: We've prepared
some of our traditional food to honor what you plan
to share with us today. STUDI:
And I am honored to have been invited
to share your table, share your story
for all the nations to hear -- a story about how a return
to traditional foods -- healthy traditional foods -- and an active lifestyle
can help prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes --
or control them. MALCOLM: Everybody knows
somebody who has diabetes, Wes. STUDI:
Mm. Listen to our elders. GLENDA:
Mm-hmm. STUDI: They can tell a story
of a time not 60 years ago when there was no word
for diabetes in our language. GLENDA: Hm. STUDI:
The illness was so rare. We all know that our way of life
was changed throughout history in ways that created
the traumas and illnesses that we suffer from today. Since the 1950s, Native families have relied more
and more on processed foods, high in sugar and fat
and low in fiber. BLOSSOM: We teach the children
to call them "sometimes foods." You can only have them
sometimes. STUDI:
Yes. But this all looks healthy. GLENDA: It's our own homegrown
vegetables and fruits. And, as you know,
they taste good, too. STUDI:
Oh, yeah. GLENDA:
I hope you all enjoy. JIMMY:
Uh, Mr. Studi? I'm Jimmy. In school, my teacher says that
we should eat healthy foods, drink water, and be active. STUDI: Well, you heard
what we all need to hear. Yeah.
Make wise choices. Follow your traditions. And I know
from listening to your words that we have the power
to prevent type 2 diabetes and obesity in our communities. Ah. Wonderful! We have salmon, corn,
squash, beans. Ahh! -GLENDA: The three sisters.
-STUDI: Yeah. GLENDA:
We have tepary beans from the Southwest sisters
as well. And really there's food here
from all four directions. Lots of different kinds of food from many different tribes
from all over the country, huh? STUDI:
Don't forget the kanuchi. [ Laughter ] MALCOLM:
You bet. And from our brothers
and sisters in the Plains... STUDI: We have the traditional
buffalo, some deer. Nice.
I like them both. They're good for you, too. MALCOLM: You know, Wes,
with a good, healthy diet, you may be able
to help prevent diabetes. STUDI:
Well, we all know that this disease
is a growing problem not only across our country,
but around the world. In Native nations, our young people are at a
greater risk for type 2 diabetes than young people in general. BLOSSOM:
That's a problem. STUDI: Yes. Many things came
together to create this problem. Thousands of years ago, Native peoples
prevented this disease by harvesting and eating
traditional foods. So we know how to prevent
obesity and type 2 diabetes. We need our elders,
the voices of our elders, along with our young people,
to speak out. BLOSSOM: I often tell people
to exercise and eat healthy. STUDI: Well, we should
eat healthy, then, before my story
and our food gets colder. [ Laughter ] MALCOLM: I'd like to have our
honored guest give our blessing. Wes? STUDI:
I want to honor your table, our friends in our tradition. Provider, who has given all, from the appearing way
to the east, the cold way to the north and the disappearing way
to the west, and the warm way to the south, you have spoken to us,
and we have spoken to you... MALCOLM:
Better get some of this venison. I haven't gotten to this yet. STUDI: This is some
of the best fish ever. MALCOLM:
Really? The salmon? Oh, yeah.
I might need some of that. STUDI: Little bit of green.
Little bit of green. Health is our life in balance. Native people are on the move to bring back
traditional, healthy foods and physical activity
to help prevent type 2 diabetes. For our health and the health
of our future generations, follow our rich traditions -- Eat healthy. Be active. Make wise choices. I know we have the power. Our people and cultures
hold the answers. We will return
to our life in balance. [ Smacks lips ] [ Mid-tempo music plays ]
