Nurturing the Health of the Siċaŋġu Community
“A Siċaŋġu led nutrition and wellness coaching program”
Food is good medicine is a term we hear often, but here on the Rosebud Reservation, we face the overwhelming presence of processed and frozen foods. Healthy options are slowly becoming more available, but many community members find themselves uncertain about how to utilize these nutritious ingredients in a way that is still tasty and appealing to those they are cooking for.
Woyute Ki Pejuta Waste Heca, which means "Food Is Good Medicine” is a program under the Siċaŋġu Health Initiative which is committed to achieving intergenerational health for the Siċaŋġu people. Woyute Ki Pejuta Waste Heca is a nutrition and wellness coaching program that seeks to help community members overcome their health challenges and live a healthier lifestyle.
This program aims to empower our community with nutritional knowledge and healthy food recipes. Through Woyute Ki Pejuta Waste Heca, we teach our community members not only how to cook healthy foods, but also to understand the fundamentals of nutrition. This education is key to combating the many health issues that our community has faced for generations. This knowledge also empowers the community to demand healthier food options to be available in our local grocery stores.
The Siċaŋġu Health Initiative recognizes that holistic health encompasses physical fitness, emotional well-being, and a sense of community. These classes consist of around 35 people with 7-10 participants in each class. The program offers a fitness component, providing access to knowledgeable staff who understand the intricacies of workouts and maintaining fitness goals. By incorporating fitness into this program, we create a sense of accountability within the community. Each participant has access to staff who can guide them along their wellness journey, ensuring that they not only set goals, but also achieve them.
One of the program's unique features is how participants earn healthy food vouchers. For each of the three classes they complete every month, participants receive vouchers that can be redeemed at local grocery stores or even at the weekly local farmers' markets held on Wednesdays and Thursdays. These vouchers have saved participants hundreds of dollars when purchasing fruits, vegetables, and other healthy ingredients.
Throughout their journey, each participant undergoes a health assessment at the program's outset and conclusion. This tracking of progress ensures that our community members are on the path to improved health and accountability.
For one of the physical activities in this program, the participants ran and walked together to a local grocery store, where they conducted a nutrition label scavenger hunt. This hands-on experience taught them how to read food labels and understand the ingredients in what they buy. They took the time to be mindful of their environment which allowed them to rethink how the store presented the food to them and how that impacted their decision in what they were purchasing to fuel their bodies.
Another memorable moment from the program was a field trip to Ghost Hawk Park which allowed them to participate in wild food harvesting. They picked grapes and chokecherries, providing a tangible lesson in community health and the beauty of utilizing the natural foods that Unci Maka provides.
Theresa Leader Charge who is a firefighter, educator, powerlifter, and most importantly, a mother and is still a dedicated participant in the program, was eager to share her experience in her own words…
"Participating in the Food is Good Medicine class has helped me and motivated me to strive to be healthier. I play many roles to give back to my community so it’s important that I continue to strive to be my healthiest. The collective new ideas and recipes shared have really improved my well-being, especially the healthy food vouchers, because fresh fruits and vegetables are so expensive here on Rosebud.
The classes were so much fun and motivating, especially the mini workouts! Even with a busy schedule, it’s something I look forward to attending in the evenings. As a person who was once borderline diabetic, these classes taught me how to read labels and try healthier food options! The workouts are created to enjoy and have fun!
These classes taught me how to 'Choose me for a Healthier Me.' I’m always recommending these classes to my friends and family!”
Theresa’s story highlights the program's power to inspire healthier choices, provide essential knowledge, and create a supportive and motivating environment for personal growth. Theresa's journey is just one of many inspiring stories within our community.
As the team wraps up this year's Woyute Ki Pejuta Waste Heca program, they will begin preparing and improving for the next cohort to begin in May 2024. This isn’t just a program about nutrition and health; it's about empowerment, self-discovery, and a renewed connection to our roots. It's a testament to our belief that food is indeed good medicine, and through knowledge and community, we can unlock a healthier, more vibrant future for generations to come.
