Native Americans have the highest Type II Diabetes rates of any group in the world.

The rapid increase of Type II Diabetes in Native communities is largely due to a change in traditionally-based diets. Through partnerships with Native American organizations, SEVA FOUNDATION supports indigenous solutions to preventable chronic diseases such as diabetes by re-introducing healthy traditional foods and food preparation practices to low-income families.

Socioeconomic factors such as displacement into environmentally degraded lands and the loss of traditional farming methods have contributed to the chronically ill health of many indigenous people. Across urban Native communities, reservations, and Alaskan Native villages, Seva supports efforts to plant community gardens, revitalize seasonal hunting and fishing activities, hold nutritional cooking classes, and construct winter food storage. Seva has a 30-year history of providing vital start-up and capacity-building support to over 350 Native-led health projects nationwide. Each Seva project affirms a lifestyle that is healthy for people, cultures, and lands.