Whirling thunder.(Snapshots: people you'd want to know)(Winnebago tribe; Whirling Thunder Wellness Program)

There was a time when members of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska assumed they would all die from diabetes.

The pervasive medical problem has been a particularly destructive force in this community. Statistics show that one-third of Winnebago adults have type 2 diabetes, and 48 percent of Winnebago children have hyperinsulinemia, a predictor of future diabetes. As little as 10 years ago, members of the community, simply waited for diabetes to take them hostage.

But recently, the situation has changed. With the inception of the Whirling Thunder Wellness Program, the Winnebago community is fighting diabetes one step at a time.

The Whirling Thunder Wellness Program--named for Chief Whirling Thunder, a leader during the 1860s whose interests included health--was officially originated in 1979 by the Indian Health Service, but it was taken under Winnebago Tribal Council management in 1995. Its mission is to elevate the health of members of fire community. According to tribal chairman John Blackhawk, the program is working. "We learned there is more we can do than sit around and wait for diabetes," he says. "We're learning how to make those lifestyle changes. We're beginning to make a difference with the young people."

Blackhawk cites several reasons for the high incidence of diabetes in his community. He says the US Department of Agriculture's Food Distribution Program, which low-income households depend on, provides canned foods that are high in sodium and sugar. Another reason is the popularity of fast food. "Everyone's busy," Blackhawk says. "Mom and Pop work, sometimes two jobs, and what's ...