Making Spiritual Connections Through Native Nutrition will feature Chef Crystal
Wahpepah, an enrolled member of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma with extensive experience
educating communities on the health benefits of native foods. She resides in Oakland, California
where she owns Wahpepah’s Kitchen, a restaurant and catering business featuring Native
American cuisine. Staff from the Kickapoo Tribe Health Center Behavioral Health and Nutrition
departments will open each session with a short discussion about the impact of nutrition on
mental health, followed by a demonstration on preparing a nutritious meal using seasonal
ingredients which honor native roots. Two sessions accommodating 50 people each will be held.
McLoud is home to the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma Headquarters and its members, and the
public are encouraged to attend. Pioneer Library System will record the event to share on its
YouTube channel and digital catalog to expand the program’s educational outreach.
According to Indian Health Services (IHS, 2019) and 2010 census data regarding mortality rates,
heart disease and diabetes are the number one and number six (respectively) causes of death
among Native Americans. Eating a healthy diet can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes, heart
disease, and other chronic conditions and diseases. The program’s goal is to educate the
community about the importance of a healthy diet and its benefit to physical and mental wellbeing.
Participants will learn how to prepare nutritious meals at home while honoring their
Native American heritage. They will have access to information and resources relating to the
prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes, as well as
mental health. Attendees will be encouraged to further engage with the wellness and health
information available from the Kickapoo Tribe Health Center and the Pioneer Library System,
both online and at the McLoud Public Library, as well the resources available to them through
community partners. This aligns with the Network of the National Library Medicine’s goal to
improve public health by ensuring the individuals have access to reliable information that
enables them to improve their health and make informed decisions about their health.