Let's Get 1 Million Indigenous People Moving!

Contributed by: Just Move It - CA
Date: 5/22/06

As part of the Annual Tribal Leaders’ Consultation Conference’s Just Move It – California 2006 Challenge was launched. Participants received a Just Move It – California 2006 Challenge T-shirt for participating in activities such as Rez Robics and the annual fun walk. Prior to the Tribal Leaders event the CAO Wellness Program piloted the virtual walk challenge and in six weeks "virtually" walk 9,192,000 steps, visiting all Tribal and Urban Indian healthcare programs in the State.

The challenge is a virtual walk throughout California Indian Country, covering 4,581 miles or 9,192,000 steps! It supports ongoing efforts of Tribal/Urban healthcare program to increase physical activity and build community wellness through physical activity programs. The virtual walk can be incorporated into physical activity programs already in place or can be used to start a new program. Every 2000 steps or 15 minutes of physical activity will equal one mile.

Participating Tribal/Urban healthcare programs can receive T-shirts to help support their current physical activity efforts or to assist in implementing a virtual walk around the state. The goal of the virtual walk is to complete the 4,581 miles representing the distance traveled visiting all Tribal/Urban Indian healthcare programs that support AI/AN in California. The distance can be completed independently or as a group, and can be incorporated into current activity programs. Tribal/Urban healthcare programs will receive a Just Move It – California 2006 Challenge stamp that can be used to verify participation and completion.