Let's Get 1 Million Indigenous People Moving!

Contributed by: Celebrate American Indian Health & Heritage
Date: 11/23/05

Our Just Move It event was on September 23, 2005 in conjunction with Montana’s American Indian Heritage Day. This event was a non-competitive 1-mile walk. We had an opening kick off in downtown Billings, Montana, under "SkyPoint." We had a drum group open the event with two songs, an opening prayer, and welcoming remarks from the Billings Area IHS Area Director and the Chief of Public Health Services from the Yellowstone City County Health Department . . .


Registration began at 8:00AM and the walk started at 9:00AM. There was no fee to participate. Participants earned a NIKE water bottle. In addition to the traditional paper and list form of registration we had a different theme.



The theme of the walk was ""MOVING TO A NEW CAMP---A PLACE OF WELL BEING." When the individuals registered they were given the water bottle, a button and given the opportunity to draw a stick figure to represent themselves as well as ancestors on a poster board representing moving to a new camp. There were 60 participants in the walk even though it started to rain at the beginning of the walk. Once the walkers reached the destination of the park, where more events were taking place, they had the opportunity to place a thumbprint to represent making it to the new camp and for our ancestors and those that were not able to make the walk. Health screening was available to those who were interested. As well as health screening events we had a number of cultural speakers and a dance exhibition at the park and Elaine Miles, from Northern Exposure and Smoke Signals, spoke on the importance of health screening as well as a comedy routine.



The day ended with a competition pow-wow, which had to move from the park to one of the schools close by due to weather. The American Indian Heritage Day: Celebrating Art, Health and Wellness is going to be an annual event in the Billings area on American Indian Heritage Day. This event was sponsored by a number of collaborators that have come together to be the American Indian Heritage Day steering committee.