Let's Get 1 Million Indigenous People Moving!

Contributed by: Elwha On The Move - Paddle to Hawaii
Date: 3/10/06

February 14th - Elwha On the Move, Paddle to Hawaii sign-up day was amazing! We have 220 participants so far. Some teams are families of moms, dads and kids. Some are grammas, kids and grandkids; some are elders, teens, staff, friends and families. The Head Start program has the Raven class (3-4yrs), the Bear (4-5yrs) class and the Kweyensens (Eagles, 3yr-5yrs) joining the paddle, with 3 teacher/staff canoes. The daycare has one children canoe of 20 kids, and a teacher canoe. The after school recreation program joined the journey with a large canoe of 20 also. Almost all of the Tribal departments are involved!

It is very exciting to see everyone eating fruits and vegetables, drinking water, exercising and use their pedometers! The Social Service and Community Health Building has started a fruit bowl with donations accepted for users and are often now seen walking on their breaks. Staff all around the Tribal Center, Medical Clinic, Housing, Hatchery and Klallam Counseling are creating healthier habits.

We have fixed up the exercise/weight room and made it into 2 rooms. We now have the free weights in one room and cardio machines in another newly painted room, with a stretching/aerobic area and a TV/VCR for doing Rez Robic workouts! It has been exciting to work on this fabulous new room and to see it now being used.

Elwha is Just Movin It!