"In May, a group of friends and I enrolled in a national exercise program called the WOMAN Challenge, where we were encouraged to walk 10,000 steps a day for eight weeks. Actually, any amount of steps would do. The trick was to do it daily.
Our team, the Native Griz, chose a virtual walking course leading from Alaska to Hawaii. Progress was logged on a virtual map. The rules wouldn’t allow a team to advance on the map unless all members met daily and minimum goals.
It proved to be a tough mandate with an 18-member team. At our halfway point in the challenge, our team never got off the starting point. As team captain, I asked walkers to “please remove yourself from the team” if you can’t meet the minimum standards.
Finally, we inched off the starting point but never out of Alaska.
But another map also charted individual progress. And several team members did make it to Hawaii, including me."
Get the Story:Walking program enlightens (The Missoulian 8/4) Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave Related Stories:
Jodi Rave: Youth show talent at Native Elite Sports camp (8/1)
Jodi Rave: Powwows pay tribute to veterans (7/30)
Jodi Rave: Sacred Hoop Journey inspires hope (7/26)
Jodi Rave: Native center at UM raises enough money (7/19)
Jodi Rave wins awards for columns and reporting (7/9)
Jodi Rave: Montana tribes at bottom of gaming scale (7/2)
Jodi Rave: Native women continue the challenge (06/18)
Jodi Rave: Graduates eager to make a difference (6/11)
Jodi Rave: Nez Perce homeland remains sacred (6/4)
Jodi Rave: Covering tribal disenrollments (5/30)
Jodi Rave: Paying respects to the departed (5/28)
Jodi Rave: Women of color need to work together (5/24)
Jodi Rave: Disenrollment and the national media (5/21)
Jodi Rave: Native women take up walking challenge (5/16)
Jodi Rave: Navajo family takes the WOMAN Challenge (5/14)
Jodi Rave: Basketball standout graduates from UM (5/14)
Jodi Rave: Native language programs struggle (5/8)
Jodi Rave: NARF delivers message with hip-hop (5/7)
Jodi Rave: Leadership in a multicultural age (4/30)
Jodi Rave: More Natives needed in journalism (4/20)
Jodi Rave: Probate reform changes 'devastating' (4/16)
Jodi Rave: Indian probate conference in Montana (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Native language preservation efforts (4/16)
Jodi Rave: Cobell calls for accountability (4/12)
Jodi Rave: Doctrine of Discovery and Indians (4/11)
Jodi Rave: Tribal colleges press for federal funds (4/6)
Jodi Rave: George Longfish never short on imagery (4/4)
Jodi Rave: Cobell calls trust offer 'insulting' (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Indian probate conference in Montana (3/30)
Jodi Rave: Lawmaker a symbol of Old West ignorance (3/26)
Jodi Rave: Res2007 highlights tribal economies (3/19)
Jodi Rave: Violence against Native women rising (03/12)
Jodi Rave: Violence against Native women rising (03/12)
Jodi Rave wins national fellowship award (03/06)
Jodi Rave: Natives find 'Voices' at Autry Museum (3/2)
Jodi Rave: Environmental racism expert in Montana (3/1)
Jodi Rave: Chippewa Cree artist honors heritage (2/28)
Jodi Rave: Nellie Two Bulls leaves strong legacy (2/22)
Jodi Rave: Count me among America's lawn freaks (2/20)
Jodi Rave: Tribes receive heating assistance (2/19)
Jodi Rave: Tex Hall leaves tribe with $100M-plus debt (2/12)
Jodi Rave: Meet your next Native American Idols (2/12)
Jodi Rave: Without funds, NAIHC fires half of staff (2/9)
Jodi Rave: Montana panel cuts Indian education budget (2/7)
Jodi Rave: Sharing the dance and harvest in Alaska (2/5)
Jodi Rave: Montana family preserves beading (1/30)
Jodi Rave: Navajo Nation to market scenic routes (1/22)
Jodi Rave: Native youth get turned onto reading (1/19)
Jodi Rave: Think tank aims to help Native students (1/16)
Jodi Rave: Winona LaDuke speaks in Montana (1/11)
Jodi Rave: Myers drops bid for 9th Circuit seat (1/11)
Jodi Rave: Interior mum on class action tribal suit (1/5)
Jodi Rave: Rep. Rehberg backs Indian committee (1/5)
Jodi Rave: Cobell sees hope for case in new year (1/2)
