Health programmes can be more effective for the Osage community if Indigenous knowledge and community outlooks are included in the interventions, new research has revealed.
Academics believe that the Osage community should be involved in tailoring health education programmes to ensure they define healthy eating in a culturally specific context that is suitable for Indigenous peoples.
Including voices from the Osage community will strengthen food sovereignty and promote wellbeing, the researchers have said.
The team of scientists gathered insights from 54 participants in the Go Healthy Indigenous-supported agriculture randomised control trial.
By combining group concept mapping methodology with focus group discussions, they gained a strong insight into the community’s healthy eating priorities.
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After gaining a better understanding, the researchers developed an eight-module healthy eating curriculum that integrates practical nutrition education and cultural eating values.
According to the findings, the key concepts essential to healthy eating in the Osage Nation are intergenerational connectedness through food practices, community food values and food accessibility.
Indigenous peoples prioritise traditional foods grown locally rather than depending on external food sources.
Senior author Tara L Maudrie said: “Healthy eating is deeply tied to cultural practices and values.
“Through this curriculum, we aim to empower the Osage community to integrate traditional foodways into their daily lives.”
The authors added: “This intervention serves as a blueprint for health programmes seeking to integrate cultural identity and community-driven goals into their health promotion strategies.”
Read the study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
