American Heart Association Awards Scholarships to Native Tribes for Becoming Heart Healthy

OKLAHOMA - Heart disease is the leading cause of death for American Indians. Plus, American Indians die from heart disease at younger ages than any other ethnic group in the United States. About 36 percent of those who die of heart disease die before age 65, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To help combat this issue, the American Heart Association (AHA) developed the AHA Heart Healthy Natives Tribal Leadership Challenge to encourage local tribal leaders to influence their community to reduce their risk factors for heart disease. Eight tribal nations in Oklahoma competed in the challenge for educational scholarships to be awarded within their tribe.

Each tribal leader had to participate in the AHA’s blood pressure management program, Check. Change. Control. and model healthy lifestyle choices in their community. They earned points for entering their blood pressure readings each month, engaging with the Heart Healthy Natives Facebook Group, physical fitness and nutrition activities.

"We were so happy with how many tribal leaders chose to participate in the challenge. It's great to see communities coming together to improve their health,” said Rachel Crawford, American Heart Association Native American Director.

2015 American Heart Association Heart Healthy Natives Tribal Leadership Challenge Results

First Place ($2,500 educational scholarship) – Wichita and Affiliated Tribes

Second Place ($1,000 education scholarship) – Muscogee Creek Nation

Third Place ($500 education scholarship) – Osage Nation

The AHA Heart Healthy Natives Tribal Leadership Challenge will begin again 2016. For more information on the American Heart Association’s Native American programs, contact Rachel Crawford (405) 59306931 or Rachel.Crawford@heart.org

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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