Our visit to the Pueblo Tribe of New Mexico was terrific. The Isleta and San Felipe Pueblo children were fun, engaging and attentive listeners. They also asked intelligent questions such as, “If continuous exercise is so important, why do our teachers cut down our recess time?” I had the opportunity to throw a few passes to the children and mostly all of them caught the football with ease. I was impressed. My departing gift? A basket of fry bread made in mud stoves.
Next, we traveled to Tuba City, Arizona to visit the Navajo and Hopi youth of Tuba City Boarding School, Keams Canyon, and Hotevilla Bacavi. There were more children at this location, but the energy and enthusiasm to learn about diabetes and obesity maintained high. One young student wrote me a letter asking how they can create a meal that is healthy yet still includes some of the cultural delicacies such as corn, squash and fry bread. I plan to assist this student and help her and her classmates achieve great health.
The message of Our Way to Health is one that promotes health and wellness for Native youth by actively learning about diabetes and obesity. I believe this message was transmitted in our visit to the Southwest.
I am Navajo and work with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe in Ignacio, Colorado. Is your curriculum available and would you be interested in visiting this area again (of course in the off season)? A main area of inspirational need for native youth is the desire to become medical professionals. Most tribes are slowly acquiring the clinics on their reservations and would like there doctors and staff to be native. I’m not sure how your organization could help but medical school is not on the minds of most students but is slowly being introduced.