By: Trisha Moquino | Executive Director Keres Children’s Learning Center

Wellness is running with all your peers when you are young (and old) so you will be strong and continue to grow physically and spiritually

Wellness is dancing your heart out in a communal setting knowing that you are all there supporting one another in heart and spirit

Wellness is praying in the morning and evening in your Pueblo/Tribal Way

Wellness is being good to people and helping others when you are able

Wellness is learning what you can and using that knowledge to benefit your people

Wellness is farming, sharing and celebrating what you have harvested

Wellness is nourishing your children’s bodies (and your own) with “real food”

Wellness is making time for our families and being “present” with them

Wellness is working hard so you can contribute to the well-being of your family

Ahweya planting with Iiwas

Wellness is being happy for others when they succeed and having compassion when they fail

Wellness is honoring the persistence of our Pueblo people and remembering that our ancestors enacted the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 through the tradition of running

Wellness is taking to heart what our elders and leaders preach and then doing your best to apply those teachings to your daily life

Wellness is helping your children learn to make good choices for their healthy development and growth

Wellness is rethinking and redefining education for your children

Wellness is doing your best to speak and use your Keres, Tewa, Tiwa, Towa, Zuni, Hopi, Dine language everyday

Wellness in your community is integrated and is not separate from the rest of our lives

Opportunities for wellness in our Pueblo communities—and all our Tribal/Indigenous communities—are all around us and they are beautiful. It is up to us to participate in those activities for the sake of our children’s health. These things are what my grandparents, my mom, my Aunt Joann and Uncle Jie , my husband, my mother-in-law, my children, my Aunt Nadine, Aunt Rose, my cousins, my brothers and sisters and countless others have taught me with their words and their actions.

 

NB3 Indigenous Early Childhood Challenge: If appropriate to share, please share one belief, practice, or saying your tribe upholds to ensure the wellbeing and healthy eating habits of your children. Please also share your tribal affiliation.  We will pick one comment to be highlighted on the banner going across our NB3 Foundation Website.

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