Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples - Food, Nutrition and Health

Pathway Contributor: Sue Hamilton

Credentials:
MSc, RD

Bio:
Sue Hamilton is a registered dietitian with a Master’s degree in Nutrition Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and has over twenty years experience working on nutrition research, education and policy development projects with First Nations and Inuit communities in Canada. Sue has been privileged to participate in ground breaking dietary research led by investigators at McGill University and Université de Montréal in Dene/Métis, Yukon, Ojibway, Mohawk and Inuit communities. She has also contributed to numerous education projects in Aboriginal communities, including the development and delivery of online nutrition courses for frontline health workers, and resources and workshops to support healthy eating in Nunavut. A favourite part of her work as a nutritionist is translating results from research into information that is interesting and usable for health workers and community members.

Contributions:

• What are the rates of overweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus among Aboriginal children in Canada? What programs exist to help address these health concerns?  

  Role: Reviewer

• Do the same body mass index (BMI) cut-off values used for Caucasian adults also apply to Aboriginal groups in Canada?  

  Role: Author

• Do Inuit have a greater rate of type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to other Aboriginal groups in Canada and compared to the national average? Is a change in traditional eating patterns and lifestyle associated with type 2 diabetes risk among the Inuit?  

  Role: Reviewer

• What are the facilitators and barriers to healthy eating in Aboriginal communities?  

  Role: Reviewer

• Is the prevalence of gestational diabetes (GDM) greater among Aboriginal women? Is there a regional difference in the prevalence rates?  

  Role: Author

• How do pregnancy weight gain patterns among Aboriginal and Indigenous women affect pregnancy outcomes and long-term infant health?  

  Role: Reviewer

• What food-related and nutrition issues arise for Aboriginal people who migrate from rural and remote communities to urban communities?  

  Role: Reviewer

• Aboriginal/Indigenous Peoples - Food, Nutrition and Health Background

  View Resource

  Role: Author