The Oneida Indian Nation Health Services Diabetes Program recently allocated funding from a grant this year to provide Nation Members, Children of Enrolled Oneidas and Health Services clients with new, state of the art equipment for the Rec Center’s Fitness Room to encourage physical activity for diabetes management and overall wellness for the community. The grant came from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), which distributes $150 million annually to Indian Health Services (IHS), Tribal and Urban Indian health programs across the country.

Mollie Tracy, the Nation’s Diabetes Program coordinator, says all of the new equipment – which includes a Concept 2 rower, updated treadmills with monitors, a PRX Performance squat rack and folding bench, rubber gym flooring and rubber coated free weights – was funded by the Diabetes Program. Recreation supervisor, Cole Perkins, believes the makeover of the Nation’s fitness room will help to increase participation at the center.

“These new additions to our facility, with our already unique selection of exercise equipment, makes the Nation gym a superior option to most local commercial fitness facilities,” he said.

One of the Center’s staff members, Tanner Bluewolf (Wolf Clan), was a key resource in researching and selecting the new equipment. Tanner has used the Nation gym to practice his own CrossFit workouts over the years. The entire Rec Center staff is excited to see the transformation of the gym and invites Members and Health Services clients to take advantage of the state of the art facility.

The Recreation Center is located on Territory Road in Oneida and is a free facility open to Oneida Members, Children of Enrolled Oneidas, Health Services clients and employees age 16 and older. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. – 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, Noon – 10 p.m. on Saturday, and Noon – 9 p.m. on Sunday. A monthly calendar of events is available on the Nation’s website. For more information call (315) 829-8484 or visit www.oneidaindiannation.org/recreation-youth-development/.

Click here to check out a video of Tanner Bluewolf demonstrating the new equipment. (music www.bensound.com)

For more info about the Nation’s Diabetes Program, contact Mollie Tracy at 315-829-8700.