INUVIK - A free weekly public swim won't eradicate type 2 diabetes among the local aboriginal population, but John Ritchie think it's a start.

Last December Ritchie was hired as the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation's (IRC) aboriginal diabetes initiative co-ordinator.

A dozen people showed up to Sunday's free public swim at the pool. Clockwise from front, are John Ritchie, Vanessa Kimiksana, Miranda Memogana, Bryann Memogana, David Roy, Troy Kuptana, Sahcho Jack, Kobe Allen, Julienne Chipesia, Leanne Kuptana, Kalel Francey (baby), Tyrell Kuptana and Jackson Christie. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

The free Sunday afternoon swims is one of the IRC-funded programs he's organized to help get people active, which is one of the keys to preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes.

Next Sunday's swim, at 2 p.m., will feature an aerobic class instructed by Donna-Lynn Baskin. Wanda McDonald brought her daughter Julienne Chipesia for Sunday's free swim. She said it's a great way to encourage people to get active, especially the youth.

"It keeps people active, busy and productive. That's great," she said.

Ritchie said that's exactly what's he's focusing on as he develops healthy living activities, ensuring that people will stick with them for the long haul.

"You can't preach to people and tell them you have to do this, this and this," he said. "We have to develop programs that they want to be a part of and they'll come back to.

"If we can actually instill the idea in kids that healthy living is fun, then that's great. If it's an elder and they want to come back, awesome."

According to a 2010 Health Canada study titled Diabetes among Aboriginal People in Canada: The Evidence, diabetes is three times more prevalent among First Nations people compared to the national average. Although a similar study in 1999 showed the rate of diabetes among Inuit was below the national average, the updated numbers show rates have increased 20 per cent over the last decade.

"Right now this is an epidemic among the Inuit population," said Ritchie.

He said much of the blame can be attributed to more and more people turning from a healthy diet of traditional foods to storebought foods high in sugar and fat. Part of Ritchie's job, which is funded by Health Canada and the GNWT, involves travelling to communities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region to spread two messages: how to prevent type 2 diabetes, and for those who have it, how to manage it.

During his visits he encourages residents to eat more country food, such as caribou meat, muktuk and fish. He also works closely with health officials in each of the communities, such as Beth Oehler in Inuvik, nutritionist for the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu regions, and Gladys Edwards, Aklavik's community health representative.

He said he plans to develop more recreational activities in those communities. In Inuvik, for example, he hopes to get several summer youth activities off the ground, such as rugby, floor hockey and softball leagues.

But he's waiting on word from GNWT on whether he'll get funding, a decision that should come in the next couple of months, before he decides which activities he'll zero in on.

The free swim program will cease at the end of March but he's hoping he can bring it back a few months down the road.