By Matt Hawthorne

The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) has launched a Haines program aimed at improving cardiovascular health among Native populations.

The "Wisefamilies" program, which started Oct. 1, is the first of its kind in the nation, according to Nancy Knapp, SEARHC Wisewoman program director in Sitka.

Funded for one year by a grant from the Indian Health Service, the program is "aimed at physical activity and healthy eating centered around traditional knowledge," Knapp said.

Using the same model as the Wisewoman program, patients will receive an initial screening and then focus on interventions.

Julia Heinz, a SEARHC doctor working on the project, said about 24 participants, ranging in age from 20 to 75, have come in for screenings since the program started. "I’m pleased with the turnout, although it would be nice to have a few more."

After the screening, participants will attend four camps throughout the year: moose, carving, eulachon, and salmon.

The camps focus on the core philosophy of the program, said Heinz. "The foundation of the program is that traditional knowledge and traditional lifestyles lead to healthier people."

Knapp said the grant application was spurred by the epidemic of physical inactivity and poor nutrition in the country, problems which lead to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

"The Native population never had these problems before the epidemic began," said Knapp. "We are trying to get back to the subsistence lifestyle and diet that didn’t have these problems."

Lani Hotch, who is coordinating the camps, is currently organizing the moose camp. "This is the first time we’ve done a moose camp. We’re in the process of signing people up," said Hotch, who thinks the camp will last about six days.

Hotch said nine people have signed up; organizers are hoping for at least 12.

"The participants are going to learn hunting safety and survival skills. Then they will learn processing and butchering of the game, making jerky and pressure canning."

Camp assistants will harvest a moose for the class under an Educational Harvest permit. Other camps will be in the spring and summer, according to Hotch.

In addition to the screening and camps, participants receive a pedometer, used to record daily activity. "The average American walks about 3,000 steps per day. We are encouraging people to reach 10,000," said Knapp.

Part of a national initiative, the "10,000 Steps" program encourages physical activity through attentiveness to daily movement. According to Knapp, 10,000 steps represent about 30 minutes of walking, which maintains a minimum level of physical activity.