'Walking Into The Unknown' - Overcoming Health Risks

“Walking Into The Unknown”, an Influential Documentary about Overcoming Health Risks, Comes to Public Television in Fall 2010
Conract: Jessica Kinser
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Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT) proudly announces the release of a new, Emmy-nominated documentary that brings you into the personal life and medical chart records of an Ojibwe man upon his impending 50th birthday.

Walking into the Unknown traces the intimate journey of a middle-aged American Indian male through the health care system as he gains a deeper understanding of himself and the health risks he faces.

A graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School-Duluth, Dr. Arne Vainio–a physician and national health columnist–works on the Fond du Lac Reservation in northern Minnesota. Frustrated by middle-aged Native men not coming in for health screenings, Dr. Vainio came to the realization that he was also avoiding the necessary screenings to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Co-produced by Ivy Vainio, Visumm Media and presented by Native American Public Telecommunications, Inc. (NAPT), Walking into the Unknown will have viewers building a personal connection with Dr. Arne Vainio–feeling the health risk burdens and analyzing thought-provoking questions that are faced in the most critical turning point of one’s life.

“My husband knew that he needed to make a change. He had avoided it for some time, but came to realize that he needed to be here for his child, myself and to fulfill his destiny and life-long mission to help others. He was not going to let himself become a statistic,” said Ivy Vainio, Producer of Walking into the Unknown and wife of Dr. Vainio.

The hour-long documentary addresses five main topics–diabetes, heart disease, stroke, suicide and alcoholism. This documentary film took two years to make and it has been shown to a number of Native American audiences throughout the United States with Dr. Arne Vainio being on hand to answer questions about health care issues and about the film.

“Our sincere hope is that we can spread the word that it’s never too late to begin caring about your well-being. The breadth of resources and informational health facts stated in the film are purely to educate, engage and inspire men and women to take action regarding their futures,” said Nate Maydole, Director and Editor for Walking into the Unknown.

In addition to the up-close footage of Dr. Vainio’s physical and emotional journey, the documentary also showcases several powerful testimonials from community members who have experienced pre-mature loss of Native men in their families, as well as descriptions of several diagnostic tests from the patient’s perspective.

“Arne did a courageous thing–he led by example. He did what all Native Americans should do-he looked in the mirror and started to fix what he saw,” said Sam Maday, a member of the Bad River Band of Ojibwe.

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