Prior Lake, Minnesota - The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community announced today that it has formed a collaboration with the American Diabetes Association to better serve American Indians who live with diabetes. While diabetes affects people of all ethnic groups, it is four to eight times more prevalent among Native Americans than in the general population. Mortality rates are 166% higher for American Indians than for other ethnic groups. And a staggering 68% of Native American children will come down with Type 2 Diabetes, which is entirely preventable.

"We are thrilled to have this collaboration with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community," said ADA Executive Director Jenni Hargraves. "We know that Native Americans have a higher propensity to develop diabetes. We have a number of different programs, resources, and services available but we need help in determining the best way to bring these services to Native American people. We recognize that there are very significant cultural differences, and we want to be sensitive to that. So we have redeveloped our Leadership Council to help advise them how to better serve the Native American community."

To that end, Community member Joanna Bryant, who serves as the SMSC Assistant Health Administrator, was recently appointed to the ADA's Leadership Council. Similar to a board of directors, the Leadership Council offers guidance to staff at the ADA to help them fulfill their mission. They also help reach people, raise revenue for research and services, and recruit new volunteers.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has worked with the American Diabetes Association for a number of years informally and through charitable giving. But with this new collaboration, the SMSC is taking a more active role in supporting the ADA.

In June 2007 the SMSC provided two medical providers from the SMSC's Shakopee Dakota Clinic to staff Camp Sioux, a camp in North Dakota which works with children with Juvenile Diabetes. Seventy-seven children as young as five years of age attended the camp to learn how to better live with their disease. More than three-fourths of the youth were on an insulin pump. "The camp was in jeopardy because they didn't have adequate medical staff, so we stepped in to help. We sent two staff members: a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator," said Bryant.

The SMSC also provided staff from the Emergency Services Department at checkpoints along the recent Tour to Cure, an annual ADA fundraiser.

The SMSC will also apply for official ADA certification in 2008 as a diabetes service provider. These efforts by the SMSC are part of a Diabetes Program which provides services and preventative activities to Community members, staff, and Native Americans living in Scott County.

"We look forward to continuing the working relationship and sharing resources to better serve Native Americans in Minnesota," said Bryant.

In June 2007 the SMSC presented the American Diabetes Association with a $25,000 donation for education to target Native Americans in Minnesota and research. Over the past several years the SMSC has donated more than $100,000 to the ADA. For more information about the American Diabetes Association, go to www.diabetes.org.

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