Healthy Highlights:
 This July, Native American tribes across the Northwest put canoes in the water to journey to the Lummi
Nation, near Bellingham, Wash. Two weeks after the annual Intertribal Canoe Journey began, young and older gathered to see the arrival of the canoes — a tradition since 1989.
This summer marked the first time the canoe journey has landed at the Lummi Nation. Fifty-seven tribal family canoes came ashore at Lummi in late July; and, one by one, each asked for permission to come ashore. Each said a few words, followed by song and cheering.
"I am so glad that the canoe journey came to Lummi," said Lummi tribal member Eythl Dianne Hillaire-Warbus. "It was just waiting to happen, and it happened right on time."
For many of the Lummi people as for other tribes, the Paddle to Lummi was more than the physical journey. The event also built a sense of pride and a sense of healing between many Native American groups, from both the U.S. and Canada.
Some of the canoes took a theme, paddling for a cause. A group of women from the Lower Elwah Klallam tribe were part of the Pink Paddle Project, canoeing for Native American women with breast cancer.
The canoe journey ended with a potlatch at the Lummi Stommish Grounds. The last potlatch held at the Lummi Nation took place in 1937. Attendees were handed gifts crafted by Lummi Nation youth.
"This is an event that will live in everyone's minds and hearts forever," said Alice Greene, Lummi tribal member.
For more information on this year's Tribal Canoe Journey:
www.indiancountry.com
 This summer, the Washington Health Foundation and its Healthiest State in the Nation Campaign teamed up with Children’s Hospital and the Washington State Nurses Association to sponsor the Seattle Storm’s “Be Fit” Clinics.
Three clinics were held around the Seattle metropolitan area: one at Pioneer Elementary School in Auburn; one at the Rotary Boys & Girls Club in Seattle’s Central District; and one at Crossroads Community Center in Bellevue.
During the clinics, Seattle Storm players such as Betty Lennox and Janell Burse worked with the kids at physical activity stations where they worked on strengthen exercises and, of course, a few basketball drills!
“The Washington State Nurses
Association (WSNA) has been partnering with the Seattle Storm for several years,” said Judy Huntington, WSNA Executive Director. “This year's ‘Be Smart, Be Fit, Be Yourself’ campaign was the best yet! WSNA, together with the Washington Health Foundation, Children's Hospital and the Seattle Storm, we were able to make a difference in the health of children in our community.”
The Seattle Storm’s Be Fit Clinics are part of the WNBA’s Be Smart, Be Fit, Be Yourself project aimed at helping kids to be healthy and to feel good about themselves.
For more information on the Seattle Storm’s Be Fit Clinics:
Seattle Storm: Be Smart. Be Fit. Be Yourself.
www.wnba.com/storm/community/be_fit.html
 Click here for a printable PDF of the Canoe Journey article
Click here for a printable PDF of the Be Fit article
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