Grubs' Up: The Health Impact of Colonialisation

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The history of Indigenous health stretches back to colonial days when ‘first contact’ met with the ‘first impact’ of Western food on the Indigenous Australian.  What colonialists brought to Indigenous Australia was a food store that could not have been further from what the hunter-gatherer physically demanded. As traditional hunter-gatherer lifestyles were replaced with a Western lifestyle, Indigenous Australian health deteriorated.  Their lean protein, slow digestible carbohydrate energy sources were, in many communities, replaced with energy dense food such as bread and wheat products.  Atkins and Bowler (2001) describe the impact of dairy on Asian physical well-being.  Although there is little reliable quantitative data available, a similar comparison could be made to the Indigenous Australian with highly processed food.  However, research has shown that when Indigenous Australians are returned to traditional hunter-gatherer diets, diseases such as diabetes almost disappear.

The ‘Close the Gap’ campaign, accompanied with health and education programs, is familiar and is a response to alarming Indigenous statistics relating to liver disease, diabetes, obesity and heart and lung disease.  Research shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are three times more likely as non-Indigenous people to have diabetes and a death rate from diabetes of twelve times that of non-Indigenous.  The health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,  directly relate to factors including, but not limited to, socio-economics, education, access to quality food and housing. 

 

Proportions (%) of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people reporting diabetes as a long-term health condition, by age-group (years) 2004-2005

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grapevine forum on Facebook provides links to Indigenous Allied Health and Close the Gap health programs that promote healthier lifestyles through education and further links to community based organisations for further assistance.  These links to the health programs are provided by the participants of the forum and not through advertising.  It has been interesting to note that there has been little advertising of food/diet products on this page with only one spruiking weight loss miracles and one from a group of parents taking Aldi to task over the ‘balanced lunchbox’ initiative.

Kuttainen (2013) states that place is full of belonging and that food travels through culture, and culture travels through food.  This space of Australia abounds in meaning and belonging:  As a homeland, a country, a spiritual location, a food bowl and healer of culture.  The Grapevine is a place with that same belonging and culture. 

Reference

Atkins, P., & Bowler, I.  (2001).  Food in Society.  London:  Arnold.

Kuttainen, V. (2013).  BA1002: Our Space: Networks, narratives and the making of place, Lecture 7:  Food Networks.  [Power Point Slides].  Retrieved from http://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au  

Image Reference

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Retrieved from  https://theconversation.com/innovative-strategies-needed-to-address-indigenous-obesity-7099