OSU receives a $3.5 million donation to fund indigenous health initiative

Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief

A donation that will change lives.

Novo Nordisk Inc. donated $3.5 million to the Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy at OSU Center for Health Sciences to fund the Indigenous Foodways and Health Initiative.

The funds will support indigenous food systems and practices that strengthen language revitalization and access to traditional foods.

Valarie Blue Bird Jernigan, professor of rural health and director of CIHRP, has worked in public health with Native American communities for 20 years and said she realized that initiatives that support and strengthen cultural practices and traditions are the most effective strategies for promoting health.

“Gifts like this one from Novo Nordisk support Native peoples to implement programs of greatest priority to them, which are culturally centered and use indigenous research methods,” Jernigan said.

Novo Nordisk works to combat chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, and rare blood and endocrine diseases, which are prevalent in American Indian populations. The pharmaceutical company produces half of the world’s insulin supply, and over 36 million people use their diabetic care products.

Jernigan said this donation would help CIHRP with its goal to partner with communities in identifying and implementing measures to analyze and understand the impact of their programs on Native health.

Jernigan said CIHRP believes all Native people should have the chance to lead a healthy, happy life and that is their goal.

“This gift is a big en- dorsement of the type of work we do at CIHRP, and we are humbled and honored to be able to carry this out in partnership with indigenous communities in Oklahoma,” Jernigan.

Courtesy of OSU news.ed@ocolly.com