Diabetes is the worst health problem we have as a Nation. It tears my heart out when I see our people dying prematurely at the ages of 55 to 65 from this terrible disease. To help our Osage people who live outside of Osage County fight diabetes, I am proposing a $500 per year benefit to help pay for a gym membership in their local communities. This would be a very simple program. When an Osage joins fitness center in their community, they submit a form to the gym that will be verified and sent back to the Nation by the gym’s management. The check is then sent directly to the gym with the stipulation that if the member quits any refund will go directly back to the Nation. A year later, they simply repeat the process.
I will be happy to write the legislation to create the program and the appropriation bill to fund it. We should start as we did with the Health Benefit with a small appropriation of around $250,000. When this money is gone simply appropriate more funding as needed.
Please note: Osage who live in Osage County have access to strength training through lifting weights and aerobic exercise with machines at fitness centers there. We are working on reviving the water aerobic classes in Pawhuska and restoring funding to the Zumba classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 6:30 P.M. there for Native Americans. We need to fight this killer where ever it raises its ugly head. I believe this new benefit will be an incentive for all Osage to improve their health and live better lives through regular exercise.
Because of the resignation of all three members of our Osage Health Authority Board, I am no longer supporting the further compacting of our Osage Health Services When this excellent team of health professionals was in place, I did believe that we could move forward and improve our health care. This is not possible at this time and we can only hope that it will be in the future.
The Cherokee Nation has set the standard for health care in Indian Country. We simply need to follow the model they have created by expanding the Osage clinic in Pawhuska and placing Osage clinics in the areas of the highest Osage population.
A new Health Authority Board has been created by recently passed ONCA 11-116. Tim Tallchief, Lynette Freeman and Ron Shaw MD have been appointed and will be resposible for “consolidating and implementing the organizational structure of the Osage Nation Health and Wellness Division.” See the Osage News article at www.osagenews.org There is also an interesting article at the same adderaa by Ron Shaw MD about self-governance in indian health care. This will be the first step towards expanding health care for our nation.
Here is my Candidate Statement that appeared in the February Osage News. In order to improve health care, we need do compact our health services. Two studies by independent consultants have shown that this would not only be feasible, but would also create substantial revenue from third party billing. Self-Governance would also allow us to create operating and preventative programs that are designed specifically for our people. The health care experts on our Health Authority Board are ready willing and able to accomplish this goal. I am in full support of this and hope that they will be given the “authority” to accomplish it. I would also create an Osage Nation Sports Alliance to partner with cities and schools to supplement existing sports programs and add new ones to improve the health of our people in Osage County.
In order to more fully meet the health needs of our Osage people, I would propose that we initiate a health tracking system that will follow and identify the health trends of our people. We need to develop a comprehensive data base that will start as early as our Osage parents will allow us to include their children's anonymous information and ask for voluntary anonymous from adults once a year. In addition to collecting data through an online survey, we could also include a hard copy survey once a year in the Osage News. Our Health department may then develop programs to meet the needs of our people based on the trends that are shown in this information. In my recent visit to the Pawhuska fitness center, I found a well equipped gym that also offered health screenings. At present they don't have an aerobic dance program, or offer yoga classes because they do not have a certified instructor. They did say that they had someone in training and intended to offer classes in the future. I would also like to see them offer some senior classes at the Title VI building when they have a certified instructor.
I am expanding my vision of a youth sports program in Osage County from an Osage Nation Youth Soccer league to an Osage Nation Sports Alliance. Of course soccer and other team and individual sports will be included. My plan is to form an alliance between the Nation, cities and schools to supplement existing sports programs and add new ones like a soccer, golf and swimming to improve the health of the children and adults in Osage County. We will need a full time director to manage the program, work with schools and cities to promote physical fitness. The director would also hire part time coaches to organize teams. This program will create new jobs and improve the health and well being of our people. It will also join in the fight against obesity and diabetes. If I am elected, I will do the research and write the legislation to create this all inclusive sports program.
As a part of our fitness program we need to build a wet area for the Osage Nation Fitness center that includes; a small lap pool, steam room, sauna and hot tub. In addition to having scheduled swim times, we should include water aerobic classes for older and diabetic Osage. These classes will allow them work out without putting stress on their joints and have proven health benefits. The joys of the steam room, sauna and hot tub have been enjoyed since the days of the Roman Empire and something I always look forward to after a good work out. Osage from Hominy and Fairfax could be included in this program by developing a shuttle service between the villages, much like the one I have proposed for the Senior Title VI program. If I am elected, I will write legislation to build it, add necessary staff and see that it is made available to the other villages.
