Project Description

Chris Edaakie—Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico
“I-Am-Going-But-I-Shall-Return”

The mission of the School Healthy Lifestyles Program is to provide Zuni youth ample opportunities and resources to develop and maintain good nutrition and exercise through health and physical education activities. In pursuit of this mission, we employ a number of proven cultural strategies, including:

• Incentives: athletic toys, bags and items of clothing featuring Zuni cultural iconography that are given away at community events
• Bi-lingual and Bi-cultural services: integration of traditional song, dance and activities into Pre-K to 12th grade curricula.
• Community events, such as “Family Fun Night,” Run/Walks and Health Fairs that feature traditional activities and games.

School Healthy Lifestyles works in close partnership with New Mexico Action for Healthy Kids, Indian Health Service, Pueblo of Zuni Arts & Crafts, and the University of New Mexico Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center.