Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk announced last week a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Nike, Inc.
Under the MOU, signed on May 12, the two have agreed to collaborate on promoting healthy lifestyles and choices for all American Indians/Alaska Natives through program activities, like co-sponsored educational/information events, marathons and sports demonstrations.
They have also agreed to collaborate to improve communications with tribes and tribal organizations in the exchange of information relevant to healthy lifestyles to combat diseases such as diabetes, which affects nearly 13 percent of the AI/AN population.
Nike has been working with tribal communities for about 10 years, which includes providing grants for sports and physical fitness programs.
Just when I was ready to give up on BIE...? Good Job Assistant Secretary Echo Hawk and BIE! KUDOS for healthier Indian children!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good agreement, promoting healthy life styles for our native people. We need more support of large corporations; as well as their products to set up gyms and exercise facilities to become the healthy people we use to be!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a good MOU! Our school is 51 years old built by the Corps of Engineers when the U.S. Government flooded tribal agency land. We need a new school for over 1200 students. Can BIE get sponsors to help our people with school buildings? Just my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteOne of the people I met will not have anything to do with NIKE because of their labor practices in other countries. I don't know much about this but it would be interesting to find out if BIE is helping perpetuate unfair labor practices in other countries.
ReplyDeleteCould this MOU be expanded to Indian children in Urban areas like Chicago?
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