Heart disease and cancer death rates among Native Americans in Michigan have dropped in the past several years, the Minority Health Partnership reported on Tuesday.

Heart disease death rates dropped 15 percent from 1993 to 1997 vs. 1997 to 2001. Cancer death rates fell 17 percent in the same period.

Despite the improvements, Mark Smit, tribal health director for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians, said there is much left to do. Nationwide, Native Americans have die earlier from heart disease than every other ethnic groups.

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Death rates lower among minorities (The Battle Creek Enquirer 2/25)

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