EXPLORE
What is Wakaya?
A study examining how cultural outdoor activities best improve health for Choctaw youth living within the districts.
9 months of activities
- 10 weeks weekly group sessions, twice per week
- 6 monthly follow ups
Activities include:
- Traditional activities – trail running/hiking, stickball, atlatl throwing, storytelling, basketry, gardening, fishing, etc.
- Outdoor Olympiad and community feast
- Culture and Trail of Tears overnight camps
- Create a digital story and community event.
What can I learn?
Learn about the following:
- Land and health
- Choctaw games and activities
- Fitbit tracking of physical activity
- Healthy, traditional foods and plants
- Living a healthy life as a Choctaw
Gain important life skills to:
- Handle stress and emotions
- Make healthy decisions to stay well
- Stay calm and relate well to others
- Develop a Choctaw peer network
Gain leadership skills:
- Design and develop a community service project
- Learn to lead as a Choctaw youth
- Model and share about Choctaw health and making good decisions
Who can enroll?
Are You:
- An enrolled Choctaw Tribal Member?
- In middle school or high school (12-19 years old)?
- Reside in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
- Interested in getting active outdoors
- Willing to commit to learning, growth and to participate actively.
Contact us to see if you qualify for Wakaya – an outdoor program that seeks to learn how we can best become healthy Choctaws.
In Wakaya, you will:
- Get physically active, eating healthy, and making wise choices.
- Care and be cared for by the earth/lands.
- Learn to lead your community to health!
What do I receive?
Get up to $345 in gift cards:
- Surveys
- Intervention Meetings
- Group Meetings
- Culture Camp
- Trail of Tears and Ancient Sites camp
Fitbit (or other exercise tracker):
- Wear Fitbit provided by study team to measure steps
Pair of Running Shoes