Table 2. Environmental Barriers and Community Solutions for Healthy Lifestyles in American Indian Communities, Wisconsin, 2007–2012a .
Tribe/Identified Barrier | Intervention | Solutions/Impact |
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Menominee | ||
Loose dogs inhibit people from walking for exercise | Police and animal rescue panel discussed protocol and answered questions |
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No grocery store on reservation; limited access to fresh produce |
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Lack of sidewalks and involvement in physical activity | CAB, UW, and tribal partners sponsored physical activity and gardening stations | First lady Michele Obama’s Inaugural National Let’s Move in Indian Country event held |
Lac du Flambeau | ||
Lack of physical activity and healthy nutritional awareness | CAB and community members organized and conducted physical activity and health stations | Let’s Move event at K-8 school |
Limited knowledge of gardening | Designed game and purchased gardening supply prizes | Elders Gardening (Bingo) event (attended by 45 men and women) |
Limited access to fresh produce and few gardens because of limited knowledge and short growing season | Menominee CAB gardening expert and subcommittee member presented steps and timeline from Menominee gardening initiative | Intergenerational container gardening workshops held, and tomato plants distributed |
Bad River | ||
Lack of safe play spaces |
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Unsafe Lake Superior beach access | UW landscape architect student and tribal Department of Natural Resources solicited CAB suggestions and designed safe tiered landscaping | Installation of landscaping and indigenous plants for beach accessibility by people of all abilities |
Limited knowledge of gardening; short growing season | CAB members attended gardening workshops | CAB Sustainable Gardening Subcommittee formed |
Tribe has no tribal K-12 schools; parental involvement with public district is limited |
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Abbreviations: CAB, community advisory board; UW, University of Wisconsin.
Examples of primary CAB activities, not an exhaustive list of initiatives completed.