Sault Tribe gets $2.5 million health grant

$2.5 million can go a long way in the U.P., and it's in the right hands to do so, as the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians received a grant in that amount to address tobacco-free, active and healthy living.

The grant is one of 61 given out to communities who received Community Transformation Grants, which are meant to be spread out over the next five years to implement community projects that reduce chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

"We are honored and thrilled to be given this opportunity to impact the health of our tribal members and all who live within our tribe’s service area," says Marilyn Hillman, community health manager for the tribe. The tribe’s service area includes Chippewa, Mackinac, Schoolcraft, Delta, Marquette, Alger and Luce counties.

She says the projects undertaken with the grant funds will include working with communities and schools in those counties on environmental, programming and infrastructure changes that will lead to healthier communities.

"The cost of managing chronic diseases for the tribe continues to grow, and the tribal population has a disproportionate incidence of chronic disease" says Hillman. "In the United States, chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death, disability, and health care costs, accounting for 70 percent of all deaths each year and 75 percent of all medical costs. Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems in the country, they are also among the most preventable."

Tobacco-free living, active living, healthy eating, and clinical preventive services like prevention and control for high blood pressure and high cholesterol are the main things the grant money is meant to address.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Marilyn Hillman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians