Obesity is a prevalent health risk among American Indian populations in the Southwest. The purpose of this research is to identify educational and culturally appropriate methods to lowering the rate of obesity among Native populations. Nutrition education is one systematic approach to educating individuals about healthy eating habits. This study evaluates preliminary data gathered from members of the Acjachemen tribe regarding their current approaches to well-being. Through survey instrumentation, the results identify personal perceptions regarding nutrition education, wellness, and tribal involvement. The outcome of this study reveals a gap between nutrition vocabulary and health awareness. This finding demonstrates that using a tribal-centric framework to improve nutrition education can be beneficial for the Acjachemen community. These preliminary findings will be useful for creating a Native health cookbook geared towards Acjachemen tribal members.
