American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have been sharing oral histories for centuries. This strong tradition of story telling provides an excellent opportunity for the communication of family health history. Diseases like diabetes, heart disease and cancer typically run in families, and knowing what you are predisposed to can help you understand health risks and assist you in making healthy lifestyle choices.
To encourage urban AI/AN families to collect and use family health history, the UIHI, in collaboration with Genetic Alliance, launched the Family Health History Project. Working with our community advisory board, project staff at the UIHI adapted a national family history tool for the urban AI/AN population. The tool is comprised of two guide books that assist in the collection of family health history and outline the relationship between genetics and disease risk. These books can be downloaded here:
Book 1: Does it Run in the Family? A Guide to Family Health History (PDF)
Book 2: Does it Run in the Family? A Guide for Understanding Genetics and Health (PDF)
Visit the UIHI Family Health History project page for more information.
