Independent news from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance

Diabetes Awareness: Longest Walk 3 kicks off Feb. 14 in California

An exhibit including a display of the tribal flags from the Cheyenne River, Crow Creek, Oglala, Rosebud, Sisseton Wahpeton, Standing Rock and Yankton Sioux Tribes. (Rapid City Journal File photo)

The Longest Walk 3, Reversing Diabetes 2011 is set to begin Feb. 14 starting in LaJolla, Calif. Read on for more details. Here is the rundown from the organizers:

This is a 5,000+ mile walk across America to bring awareness of the devastating effects of diabetes and how it can be reversed by changing our entire diet and lifestyle! This disease is at epidemic levels across America, and throughout Indian Country.

We will hold community talks along the way about reversing diabetes, and heart disease. We will be advocating for major changes in our eating habits, while promoting beneficial exercise programs. Our goal will be to REVERSE DIABETES AND RAISE THE CONSCIOUS OF AMERICA THAT WE MUST HALT THE WORST DIET IN THE WORLD!

We will be leaving La Jolla, California on February 14, 2011 (Valentine’s Day – Heart Day) following a pipe ceremony, and other events, and entering Washington DC on July 8th, 2011 (Note: Facebook only allows events to be posted that are 4 months or less — this walk is actually about 5 months).

California- Feb 14 – Feb 24
Arizona – Feb 24 – Mar 16
New Mexico – Mar 16 – Apr 6
Texas(panhandle) – April 6 – Apr 8
Oklahoma – Apr 8 – Apr28
Arkansas – Apr 28 – May 1
Louisiana – May 1 – May 17
Mississippi – May 17 – May 20
Alabama – May 20 – May 22
Florida – May 22 – June 12
Georgia – June 12 – June 19
South Carolina – June 19 – June 25
North Carolina – June 25 – July 2
Virginia – July 2 – July 8

There will be a Mid-walk break from May 11 – 17th, while we’re in Louisiana for the walkers to travel back home, or help the communities in that state.

We also welcome a Link run coming in from Rapid City, South Dakota, meeting us in Oklahoma. For more info on this, please contact Tokala Banks.

Each day the walkers will walk a total of 15 – 25 miles, and the runners will run between 50 – 100 miles. This event has a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY on DRUGS/ALCOHOL — this will be your only warning.

We are currently in need of local event planners, volunteers, supporters, and musicians willing to play benefit concerts along the route. If you are interested in making a commitment of this type, or know of anyone, please contact us via email or phone. We will then put you in contact with one of our State Coordinators in your area.

We have only 8 months before the start of this historic event. Our route is taking us along much of the southern coastline. We have and will address any needs while the walk is in your state, with adequate notice. So please let us know ahead of time.

Tatanka Banks
President, Dennis Banks Co.
(952) 220-9046
t.banks2010@yahoo.com

Goodie Cloud
National Coordinator
The Longest Walk 3/Reversing Diabetes 2011
(218) 209-7066
ndn_queen_bee@yahoo.com

Phil Bautista
National Coordinator
The Longest Walk 3/Reversing Diabetes 2011
(414) 688-6443
phil@fivehawk.com

LET US BEGIN!

MIIGWETCH FOR YOUR TIME & TRUSTED SUPPORT,

NOWACUMIG
Dennis J. Banks
Ojibwa Warrior
nowacumig@gmail.com

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear is the founder and director of the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance, a 501-C-3 nonprofit organization with offices in Bismarck, N.D. and the Fort Berthold Reservation. Jodi spent 15 years reporting for the mainstream press. She's been awarded prestigious Nieman and John S. Knight journalism fellowships at Harvard and Stanford, respectively. She also an MIT Knight Science Journalism Project fellow. Her writing is featured in "The Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on Race and Ethnicity," published by Columbia University Press. Jodi currently serves as a Society of Professional Journalists at-large board member, an SPJ Foundation board member, and she chairs the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee. Jodi has won top journalism awards from mainstream and Native press organizations. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.