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Apr 7

Northwest Tribe Brings Powwow Tradition To The Gym – KUOW News and Information

Exercise Programs Comments Off on Northwest Tribe Brings Powwow Tradition To The Gym – KUOW News and Information

In Indian Country, a gym membership isnt a cultural norm. The incidence of heart disease and obesity are high there. So northern Idaho's Coeur DAlene tribe is incorporating culture into its fitness programs.

Its not Sweatin to the Oldies or High Intensity Interval Training. Its powwow.

The Coeur DAlene tribe is known for two things: its hospitality and its powwow. The cultural celebration is one of the largest native gatherings in the nation.

So, the tribe borrowed from that tradition and created an exercise program based on powwow dancing.

The tribe has released a workout DVD. The series includes a warm up and breaks down moves for six dances typical at Powwows, including the mens fancy dance.

The hip move involves lifting your knee up and then circling it out to the side, all while bouncing to the drum beat.

A tough workout

The tribe also hosts weekly classes at the Coeur DAlene Wellness Center.

Several times a week people gather here on the second floor to dance along to the DVD together. Tribal member Ryan Ortivez gave a lot of credit to Powwow Sweat

I lost 13 and a half pounds, he said. Im aiming to lose 40 pounds by the end of the year.

Ortivez quit smoking this year. He also gave up junk food and soft drinks.

Wellness Center Director LoVina Louie keeps everyone moving through the various dances. Sometimes, she pauses the DVD to workshop the most complicated moves.

She said its harder than it looks.

If you dont do it regularly, your calves will hurt, like youre just out of breath, because youre just constantly bouncing, Louie said. Its almost like jump roping for 25 minutes straight.

Fighting obesity on the reservation

We know for example that American Indians and Alaska Natives are 60 percent more likely to be obese than non-Hispanic whites and so they have real health challenges in their communities, said Doctor Terry OToole with the CDCs Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Division.

Since 1999, the agency has funded requests for community based health projects. OTooles office granted the Coeur DAlene tribe $2 million to develop Powwow Sweat. It also supports a community garden here, an effort to promote indigenous foods and a project that stocks the reservations gas station market with healthy food options.

Combating obesity requires more than just one initiative or one program, OToole said. It takes a variety of what we call population based strategies.

OToole said the goal is to achieve community-wide results. But, according to Louie, that goal isnt easy on a reservation, because mainstream fitness and nutrition programs dont meet the needs of tribal members.

Most programming is only physical, or its only nutrition, Louie said. Its in these compartments whereas, were more holistic.Its that combination of Native tradition and exercise that keeps Ortivez and his neighbors coming to class each week to watch the DVD and dance alongside each other.

Its a lot more attractive than doing jogging or the bicycle for me, because it also relates to my culture, Ortivez said.

In addition to losing weight and getting healthy, Ortivez wants to be in good enough shape to dance in the tribes Powwow this summer. If he does, it will be his first time.

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Northwest Tribe Brings Powwow Tradition To The Gym - KUOW News and Information

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