Food and Fitness Celebration just around the corner

By B.L. Azure

The coordinators of the upcoming Food and Fitness Celebration survey the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center. Vendors and healthcare providers will set up informational stations on the floor during the event. From left are Michael Pierre, Rene Kittle, Virgil Dupuis, Lynnette Dupuis and Mike Tyron. (B.L. Azure photo)

PABLO — The old adage: An apple a day keeps the doctor away can be expanded to say: A healthy diet and exercise keeps illness at bay and the doctor away. If you want to know the particulars of the expanded adage the upcoming Food and Fitness Celebration can provide them.

The celebratory event is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 23 at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center on the Salish Kootenai College campus. It is sponsored by grants from the USDA Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

There will be informational tables set up for area healthcare providers as well as health and food vendors.

The Tribal Health and Human Services will have nine tables and will offer screening for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and flexibility. The other THHS tables will feature information on various programs under its umbrella.

The Lake County Health Department and the area hospitals will also have informational tables.

There are tentative plans to administer flu shots by the Lake County Health Department and THHS.

Numerous physical activities will be held inside and outside of the gymnasium. Door prizes and T-shirts awarded throughout the day.

The community garden at Salish Kootenai College is ripe for picking and much of the harvest goes to the tribal senior citizen meals program as well as to people receiving commodities. (Rene Kittle photo)

A farmers’ market will feature locally grown produce for sale will also be a part of the event.

Lunch will be provided during the noon hour with luncheon speaker Darryl Tonemah, a health science professional and entertainer. Tonemah will perform at the Arlee Charlo Theater at 6 p.m.

Tonemah has three bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree, as well as a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and Cultural Studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

According to his website, Tonemah’s live shows, full band electric or an intimate acoustic set, always finds him connecting with his audience. Whether reaching out to Native youth through his many workshops and speaking engagements, or pouring it all out on stage and in the recording studio, Tonemah’s personality always shines through.

The Field and Home project's focus is on increasing awareness of healthy food planning and preparation including how to can garden produce. From left are Nicole Couture, Sandra Pierre, Rene Martin and Jessica Pierre. (Rene Kittle photo)

Food and Fitness Celebration schedule of events at the Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center, Wednesday, Sept. 23:

8 a.m.: 5-K walk/run
9 a.m.: Health and Fitness Screening
Food and Fitness Displays
Farmers Market
Sample an array of commodity recipes
12 p.m.: Lunch and meet speaker Darryl Tonemah
1:30 p.m.: Health and Fitness Screening
3:30-5:30 p.m.: Native games
6 p.m.: Darryl Tonemah Concert at the Arlee-Charlo Theatre

For more information, contact Virgil Dupuis at 275-4899 or Rene Kittle at 675-2700, ext. 1246 or Michael Pierre at 675-2700, ext. 1063.