Chickasaw Nation Boys and Girls Club of Sulphur staff have participated in training to help Native American youth discover the path to a healthy lifestyle.
Colt Digby, club spokesperson, said the group attended the three-day national training session designed to help them implement the Together Raising Awareness for Indian Life program, called “On the T.R.A.I.L.” at the local club.
“On the T.R.A.I.L. is a 12-week, national, diabetes prevention program aimed at reducing the onset of diabetes among Native American youth though a combination of physical, educational and nutritional activities that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Digby said the program helps youth draw from tribal traditions and history to learn about nutrition, food choices and the impact of diabetes.
“Throughout the program, self-esteem, prevention activities, community and family involvement is encouraged. The students who are going through the program are very motivated and love to interact about what we have learned as a group,” he said.
The program also helps participants learn to apply decision making and goal setting skills. In addition, students engage in service projects to improve healthy lifestyles in their communities.
The Chickasaw Nation Boys and Girls Club of Sulphur is one of 40 grant recipients to participate in the T.R.A.I.L. initiative,. The initiative is made possible through a partnership of Indian Health Service, National Congress of American Indians, Boys and Girls Club of America and Nike, Inc.
