These are some of the people who attended the Wisdom Steps conference June 14-16 in Mahnomen, Minnesota. The conference theme was entitled “Honor Our Elders” and focused on health promotion and prevention. Pictured here are (L-R, front row) Ellen Altman, Mayme Swader, and Carol Hackett. (L-R, back row): Dottie Griffith, Youth Volunteer Jason Christenson, and Tribal Secretary/Treasurer April McCormick.
Wisdom Steps’ 11th annual “Honor our Elders” conference was held June 14-16, 2011 at the Shooting Star Casino, Hotel and Event Center in Mahnomen, Minnesota. It was a wonderful event with over 350 attendees representing 10 tribes and three urban communities. Grand Portage was well represented.
Wisdom Steps, a preventative health program for American Indian elders, encourages elders to take simple steps to improve their health. American Indian elders gather from across Minnesota to learn more about how to provide increased health advocacy, health education, health screenings and healthy living activities.
With the theme “Honoring our Elders,” the conference opened with the White Earth Color Guard and veterans from each tribal nation bringing in their respective nations’ flags; a pipe ceremony with Mike Swan, spiritual advisor from White Earth; and welcome remarks from Wisdom Steps Board Chair Marie Spry of Grand Portage and Minnesota Board on Aging representative Rolf Hage.
The conference included many informative sessions such as Medicine Talk, Colon Cancer, Suicide Intervention, Elder Abuse Awareness, Health Care Directives, Matter of Balance, Caregiver Support, Recycling and Reuse, Talking Circle and Let’s Speak Dakota.
There were also Wii games for elders and back, shoulder and arm massages throughout the day.
The conference concluded the next morning with a Wisdom Steps walk and water exercises, a healthy breakfast, and a keynote speech by Dr. Kathleen R. Annette, acting deputy director for field operations with the Indian Health Service.
At the conference, elders were awarded Wisdom Steps certificates and charms for their efforts to keep themselves healthy throughout the year. They also received a Wisdom Steps T-shirt and conference bag.
New this year was a team walking contest, and Zaag’idiwin from White Earth came in first place with 1,525 miles walked.
In second place was A Rooster and his 4 Chicks from Grand Portage. The team walkers included Larry Peterson, Patty Winchell-Dahl, Judy Ranta, Bernice LeGarde, and Darlene LeGarde with 1,102 miles walked.
In third place was Cool, Calm, Snappy Walkers from Leech Lake with 1,084 miles walked. Overall, 16 teams were entered and altogether they walked 12,500.9 miles. The walking team contest was February to April. It’s amazing how much our elders walked in just three months!
This year’s conference was a huge success. A huge Chi- Miigwech goes to all the conference planners, Wisdom Steps partners and Wisdom Steps sponsors.
Cookbook for sale
The Grand Portage elders, through the Elder Nutrition Program (ENP), have published a cookbook of recipes submitted over a period of three years. Carol Hackett worked very diligently to gather all the recipes and with help from the ENP staff was able to complete the book.
The cookbook is for sale at the reasonable cost of $12.50. All proceeds will go directly to the elders for their activities, Rez Rides, funeral flowers, and whatever they choose to spend it on.
All recipes are tried and true, with the exception of the recipe for elephant stew submitted by Barb Hackala. Anyone interested can purchase the cookbook from the ENP ((218)475-2655, the Grand Portage Trading Post, or Nick’s Shop at the Grand Portage Lodge.
A Chi-Miigwech goes to everyone who assisted with this publishing process.
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