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"CN Principal Chief Chad Smith, HMC Dir, Ed McClemore, and CN Tribal Councilor Joe Crittenden join in the groundbreaking ceremony for new diabetes center."

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Cherokee Nation officials joined with officials from the Indian Health Service to announce the building of a new diabetes, physical therapy and podiatry building to be located at Hastings Medical Center in Tahlequah. The 10,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to be completed next May, will provide services for the more than 2,000 diabetic patients currently in treatment at the center.

During the ceremony, officials from the Cherokee Nation announced a contribution of $104,000 to help equip the facility with medical supplies, equipment for exam rooms, and new physical therapy equipment.

"This is the spirit of ga-du-gi," said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith. "This facility will truly be a one-stop shop for diabetes care." Ga-du-gi is the Cherokee word for "working together."

Services at the center will include diabetic education with individual and group sessions, nutrition education, and diabetic foot care. Smith said the new facility will be a "huge first step" in educating Native Americans about diabetes and help them make better health choices earlier in life.

"We need to change our way of thinking," Smith said. "Instead of just treating diabetes, we need to educate the people and help them make healthy choices prior to the onset of the disease."

Cherokee Nation Health Services Group Leader Melissa Gower said that the tribe has partnered with Indian Health Service on other projects at Hastings, and this is another project in the partnership that will help not only Cherokee citizens, but all Native Americans.

"We look forward to our continued partnership with IHS in these endeavors," Gower said.

For more information on the Cherokee Nation Diabetes Program call Cherokee Health, phone: 918-0453-5000, or send an e-mail requesting information.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org