Despite Chief Calvin Craigan’s trademark slim build, shíshálh (Sechelt) First Nation is stepping up for the Beefy Chiefs Challenge.
Introduced last year as a pilot project by the First Nations Health Council (FNHC), the Beefy Chiefs fitness challenge is being offered to the first 100 Band members who sign up, shíshálh Nation director Chris August told the Sunshine Coast Regional District board on Nov. 13.
“I’m a little beefy myself, so I thought it would be a good program,” August said in his report to the board. “It’s a free challenge program, and we’re going to provide the Fitbits.”
The Band is buying 100 Fitbits — wireless pedometers that participants wear to track steps, distance and active minutes.
“The Fitbit is a really neat piece of technology,” FNHC chair Grand Chief Doug Kelly said Wednesday. “It keeps us honest. You can’t lie.”
Kelly said the goal of the challenge is for participants to log 10,000 steps (approximately five miles / eight kilometres) and 10 flights of stairs per day. The Fitbit also connects users to Internet discussion boards and allows them to compare their results with the progress of other participants.
“People are supporting each other; they’re challenging each other. It’s a really simple tool,” Kelly said.
There are currently 1,840 people participating in the Beefy Chiefs Challenge, up from just over 200 chiefs and health directors who signed up for the pilot program, which was focused on weight loss. This year’s program, which is open to all B.C. First Nation citizens, shifts the focus to “accepting personal responsibility for personal well-being,” Kelly said.
“This isn’t a weight loss challenge. It’s about being physically active. We want to encourage people to look at their lifestyle and look at the changes they want to make. Anyone can walk. Anyone can participate.”
First Nation communities across the province have embraced the challenge, but some areas have gone all out. On Vancouver Island, Kelly said, “they’re kicking butt.”
The level of buy-in is also reflected in the steep monthly rise in total steps of participants, which shot up from about 52 million in September to almost 88 million in October.
Kelly, who is also president of the Sto:lo Tribal Council, noted the program has inspired women in his community to start up fitness groups. He called the shíshálh Nation’s decision to offer the program to 100 Band members an “awesome” development.
The challenge runs to the end of April. Participants are eligible for quarterly prizes and grand prizes that will be awarded next May at the seventh annual Gathering Wisdom for a Shared Journey forum.
