With statistics showing that Native Americans in Washington have the shortest life expectancy and suffer from high rates of diabetes and deaths from injuries, the Muckleshoot Tribe hopes a $20 million health and wellness center will keep a new generation of tribal members healthy.

The 96,000-square-foot facility is evenly divided between treatment and prevention services. The medical center offers a full medical clinic and pharmacy, chemical-dependency and mental-health services, massage therapy, acupuncture and dental care. The wellness center has a gym, racquetball courts, free weights, weight-training machines, a pool and physical-therapy services.

The tribe paid the entire cost of the center using gaming revenues.

Get the Story:
Tribe counting on new facility to lift members' overall health (The Seattle Times 10/17)

Relevant Documents:
American Indian Health Care Delivery Plan (October 2005)

Relevant Links:
Muckleshoot Tribe - http://www.muckleshoot.nsn.us