A joint message from Richard Jock, FNHA Chief Executive Officer; and Dr. Nel Wieman, FNHA Chief Medical Officer
We hope that you took part in our annual 30x30 Active Wellness Challenge, and that you are feeling the benefits of being more active. Whether you took part on all 30 days of June, or went at your own pace, we congratulate you for taking steps to prioritize your wellness!
We encourage you to keep the momentum going. Even small steps can add up to big changes. Not only will you become healthier if you move more, you may inspire others around you to do the same.
The theme for our 30x30 challenge this year was “Movement is Medicine," because being active is so beneficial for our wholistic wellness -- it helps us keep our bodies, minds, spirits and emotions healthy. There are so many kinds of movement to choose from – including gardening, swimming, walking, hiking, hunting, and canoeing – that everyone should be able to find something they enjoy.
Every year we are honoured and grateful that other First Nations people across BC share all the unique ways they are keep their mind, body and spirit active and balanced. As for us, we continue to aim for 10,000 steps daily.
This year's 30x30 Active Wellness Challenge was also about honouring where each of us are at on our personal wellness journeys, and being grateful for the movement we are able to engage in each day.
During the challenge, we featured the stories of community wellness champions including that of Cyril Morris, weqwaqweleq, Lekwungen from Songhees Nation. He shared his journey towards wellness after a health scare. By transforming his everyday habits and patterns, he prioritized his health.
Another story was about Josh Wesley, who is Gitxsan/Tsimshian from Gitsegukla, and how he keeps active and connected to culture by hunting and being on the land. He shared how it is comforting to have friends and family enjoying each other's company while on the land together. He says it is not only good for his fitness and wellness, but it gets him the traditional foods he enjoys.
It is our hope that this challenge will motivate you to reflect on your physical activity goals and develop some healthy movement habits that will continue. Here are some tools to support you in your physical wellness journey:
- FNHA's Wellness Roadmap – This workbook can supp ort you to determine your wellness goals and plan strategies for accomplishing them.
- FNHA's Health and Wellness Daily Organizer – Th is daily organizer is intended to support you in tracking your wellness activities for all four wellness streams: Being Active, Eating Healthy, Nurturing Spirit, and Respecting Tobacco. To order a copy, just email Resources@FNHA.ca.
- FNHA's webpage, Being Active.
- Our partner, I·SPARC, offers webinars, training and physical health education opportunities you can access by visiting the I·SPARC Events Page. You can learn about the I·SPARC's Indigenous RunWalk program, FitNation training and the Healthy Leader Training by visiting their Healthy Living Page.
