29th annual Michigan Indian Family Olympics brings tribes from across the state to CMU on Friday
More than 1,000 participants from Native American tribes across the state will meet in Mount Pleasant on Friday.
The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe presents the 29th annual Michigan Indian Family Olympics on July 22 on the campus of Central Michigan University. The event is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
The full event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at CMU's Lyle Bennett Outdoor Track and Field Complex at 1200 S. Franklin St.
The games include archery, lacrosse speed shot challenge, an obstacle course, basketball shot contests, golf competitions and more, according to a press release from BCBSM.
The release states nearly 100 children will run the final mile of the #MIKidsCan Tribe to Tribe Marathon, a program encouraging kids to log a total of 26.2 miles of physical activity over a nine-week period leading up to the games.
The Michigan Indian Family Olympics will include a ceremony announcing the winners of the annual nine-week Tribe to Tribe Blues Community Challenge, a wellness competition sponsored by Blue Cross. The winning tribe is determined by team members logging the most miles of physical activity throughout the challenge.
Participating tribes will receive grants to support health and wellness programs in their communities.
According to the Native American Research Centers for Health, Native American populations have higher incidences of cardiovascular disease, obesity, respiratory issues, HIV/AIDS, mental health concerns and substance abuse than the general population. The release states, the annual competition motivates Michigan’s tribal communities to rally around a common goal: adopting a healthier lifestyle. At the end of the challenge, tribes invest the funding they receive from BCBS to support additional health and wellness opportunities in their community.
Here's the full schedule:
