Committee Chair Dorgan, Vice Chair Thomas and other Members
of the Committee on Indian Affairs, thank you for the opportunity
to speak to you today in support of diabetes prevention and
the overall health of Native American communities and the
important role that corporate commitment can play in addressing
these issues.
At Nike, diversity is celebrated. In that spirit, Nike actively
supports the Native American community through a variety of
initiatives, programs and grants that seek to increase physical
activity of young people on Native lands to help improve their
lives and aid in the prevention of prevalent health issues
such as diabetes.
Like of all of you, we at Nike are very aware and concerned
about the mounting diabetes epidemic among Native Americans
and the high percentage of cases among Native American youth.
I am named after my great grandfather Thomas Duck a provider
for the Assiniboine and my clan is the red bottom clan. Today
I am the Director of Nike’s Native American Business
Program and a proud member of the Ft. Peck tribes (Sioux and
Assiniboine tribes) in northeastern Montana. In 2001 the tragedy
of diabetes struck my family when I lost my mother to Type
2 diabetes. I am committed to forging a healthier future for
all Native Americans, a future where diabetes is a thing of
the past and physical fitness among youth is at an all-time
high. Together, as public and private partners, I believe
we can overcome anything.
The Problem
Diabetes strikes 13 percent of the Native American population.
Even more concerning is the 80 percent increase of diabetes
among Native American children and young adults. Complications
from diabetes lead to major causes of death and health problems
in Native American communities including an amputation rate
that is three-to-four times higher.
Nike’s Approach
Through my passion and Nike’s commitment to the community
we have worked with government officials and community elders
in the creation of Nike’s Native American community
program which is a multi-tiered initiative to support and
encourage physical activity on Native American lands to combat
diabetes. The program has several key components that are
detailed as follows.
Indian Health Service (IHS) and Nike Memorandum of
Understanding
Under the leadership of Indian Health Services director, Dr.
Charles Grim and Leo Nolan, Senior Policy Analyst for External
Affairs for IHS, the Nike Native American community program
helped forge a unique partnership with IHS, with the signing
of an important Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November
of 2003. Nike and IHS signed the MOU to collaborate on a promotion
of healthy lifestyles and healthy choices for all American
Indian and Alaska Natives. The MOU is a voluntary collaboration
between business and government that aims to dramatically
increase the amount of health information available in American
Indian and Alaska Native communities. The goal of the MOU
is to help those communities gain a better understanding of
the importance of exercise at any age, particularly for those
individuals with diabetes.
The MOU supports the President of the United States’
“Healthier U.S. Initiative,” the Secretary of
Health & Human Services’ Preventative Initiative
“Steps to a Healthier U.S.” and the Indian Health
Services’ “Health Promotion/Disease Prevention
Initiative.”
In 2003, Dr. Grim offered this perspective on the new Indian
Health Service partnership: “The mission statement of
Nike shares a common basis for collaborative activities with
the IHS and other federal agencies. That basis is the improvement
of the health and fitness of every American.”
Continued Grim, “Overweight and obesity are the fastest-growing
causes of preventable disease and death in America and are
contributing factors in diabetes, heart disease, high blood
pressure, stroke and poor cholesterol levels. Nearly 13 percent
of the Indian population is affected by diabetes, and this
campaign can help promote positive changes in the health issues
associated with these and many other illnesses and diseases
in American Indian communities.”
Regular physical activity contributes to better health
by reducing obesity and the many chronic conditions associated
with it, including increased diabetes and heart disease,”
said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson
at the time of the MOU signing in 2003. “This new partnership
will serve American Indian and Alaska Native communities by
expanding the information available on the importance of physical
activity.”
Nike stands by the words of co-founder Bill Bowerman who said
that if you have a body, you are an athlete. Applying this
thinking in conjunction with the goal of the MOU and through
deeper understanding in working with the IHS, Nike is developing
an innovative new shoe that offers increased comfort through
a uniquely designed fit. Nike’s goal with this new design
is to increase comfort among Native American diabetics, both
pre- and post-diagnosis, in the hopes that it will encourage
and motivate these citizens to exercise and maintain their
physical fitness.The shoe is still in development and will
be offered through limited distribution to qualified Native
American Business partners.
Native American Incentive Program
In 2000, Nike began the Native American Incentive Program.
Working closely with the diabetes program coordinators of
some 116 tribal agencies, Nike provides product for their
fitness promotion programs and partners with these tribes
to provide mentoring and recreational events for the tribal
population.
The White Earth Reservation Tribal Council, in White Earth,
Minn., for example, began its Diabetes Project with one center
and a total of 45 participants. With help from Nike, the program
has grown to five Fitness/Wellness centers, 1130 participants,
350 participants in a 100-Mile Walk program, 275 diabetes
camp participants, and 40 attendees a month in its water-aerobics
classes. Ages of the participants range from 10 to 92.
Nike’s U.S. Community Affairs program has also partnered
with several national stakeholders and government officials.
These key partners include the Indian Health Services, the
Department of U.S. Health and Human Services, FirstPic, and
the Boys & Girls Clubs which introduced the NikeGO on
Native Lands program at six Boys & Girls Clubs sites on
Indian reservations. Through this pilot program, NikeGO provides
a culturally relevant physical activity curriculum, training,
equipment and incentives, all designed to help Native American
youth ages 8-15 discover the joy of movement and the fun of
physical activity. Since 2004, NikeGO on Native Lands has
expanded to include grants to 67 Boys and Girls Clubs on Indian
Reservation across 20 states. Fifteen of those grants were
awarded this year. Last year, Nike donated more than $1 million
in product to support this program.
Listen
to the Voice of the Athlete
Nike has always listened to the voice of the athlete to
inspire and motivate both within its organization and within
the community. Nike has applied this philosophy to the Native
American community, as well.
Native American golfer Notah Begay III, a 4-time winner
on the PGA Tour, has played a central role in helping Nike
educate Native Americans about the benefits of exercise.
In fact, Mr. Begay’s efforts off the golf course specifically
focus on preventing the continued spread of diabetes in
the Native American community. In 2004, Mr. Begay joined
Dr. Grim and me at the annual session of the National Congress
of American Indians. Mr. Begay was instrumental in kicking
off the first ever National Native American Health and Fitness
day.
In May of 2006, Nike announced a five-year partnership with
the Iroquois National Lacrosse organization, providing the
Iroquois Nationals with footwear and apparel, including
team uniforms, warm-ups and casual sports apparel. Nike
designed the new uniforms to pay homage to the Iroquois
Nation’s rich history in the sport. They debuted last
summer at the 2006 World Lacrosse Championships in London,
Ontario, Canada.
The Iroquois Nationals today are the only indigenous nation
worldwide participating in international sports competition,
meaning that the Iroquois Nationals compete for the world
title alongside the U.S., Canada and other qualifying countries
at each World Lacrosse Championship.
The partnership developed out of Nike’s commitment
to working with the Native American community and as another
means of inspiring physical activity among Native American
youth.
“We are proud to have Nike support us at this exciting
time in our history,” said Chief Oren Lyons of the
Iroquois Nationals at the time of the partnership announcement.
“The Iroquois Nationals Program has had a significant
impact on the youth of our confederacy providing an international
showcase for our players and our culture. With Nike’s
support, we will be able to continue to send our best athletes
to compete and promote lacrosse to the world, sharing the
game and our history.”
Historically, the game of lacrosse may be one of the oldest
team sports in the world, and the roots of modern day lacrosse
can be traced back to the Iroquois. For over 500 years,
lacrosse has played an integral part of the Iroquois Confederacy
well being. As lacrosse continues to grow in popularity
around the world, Iroquois Nation leaders are committed
to promote its heritage and drive broader participation
in healthy physical activity among its people.
Late in 2006, the Native American Basketball Invitational
(NABI), the largest all Native American basketball
tournament in North America, announced Diana Taurasi as
its first Honorary Commissioner through its partnership
with Nike.
“Nike has been a sponsor of NABI since the tournament’s
inception in 2003. Our national tournament, organized for
the sole purpose of creating college scholarship opportunities
for Native American high school athletes, will feature 80
tribal teams from the U.S and Canada. Nike’s willingness
to stand beside our efforts to make NABI successful has
been instrumental in our rapid growth” said GinaMarie
Scarpa-Mabry, co-founder of NABI, at the time of the announcement.
Since its inception, NABI has created numerous opportunities
for Native American students to receive college athletic
scholarships by showcasing high school athletes from Native
American communities from throughout North America in one
location. NABI’s goal for the July 2007 tournament
is to become a NCAA certified summer event, which will make
NABI the first all Native American tournament certified
by the NCAA.
Conclusion
The mission of the Nike brand is to bring inspiration and
innovation to every athlete in the world. Also, one of the
company’s celebrated maxims is to “Do the Right
Thing.” On behalf of Nike, I believe that our program
designed to provide diabetes prevention and overall improved
health to Native American communities is true to both its
mission and key maxim.
A future rid of diabetes within the Native American community
can only be realized if we inspire and instill healthy lifestyles
in our youth today. Nike and its partners in the corporate,
nonprofit and government arenas have an opportunity to shape
these kids’ lives now, and help them form positive
habits and attitudes that last a lifetime.
I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work for
a company that is thriving to make a difference, but we
will only be as successful as the partnerships we forge
along the way. Your leadership on this issue is critical,
and we look forward working with you. |
