Diabetes Prevention Sites and NCAI Celebrate 3rd Annual National Native American Health & Fitness Day   The National Congress of American Indians, in conjunction with the Indian Health Service and Nike, Inc. sponsored the third annual National Native American Health & Fitness Day on November 2, 2005.  The purpose of this day was to focus attention on issues of Native American health concerns including diabetes and promoting healthy living.   NCAI celebrated this event with a Wellness Walk, titled “Healthy Youth: The Future of Indian Country,” in downtown Tulsa on November 2. Olympic Gold Medalist Billy Mills was the keynote speaker for the rally and launched the walk. Participants received incentives for participating in the walk, including a Nike water bottle, a jogging radio with stopwatch, and a Just Move It bracelet.   Billy Mills is a long-time champion of Native health issues and an inspiration to thousands of Native people.  Mills, a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe, won the 10,000 meter race at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.  Representatives from three Oklahoma diabetes prevention sites participated in the Wellness Walk.  Several children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chickasaw Nation were thrilled to me Mills and participate in the walk!   NCAI President Tex Hall said building healthier lifestyles takes more than a one-time effort.  Routine physical activity is one of the proven health promotion and disease prevention strategies that can reduce risk of these chronic diseases.  Research has shown that as little as 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week can cut diabetes risk in half for high-risk individuals.   The IHS National Prevention Initiative is encouraging tribal leaders to hold Wellness Walks or other fitness events in their home communities between November 2 and December 31, 2005.  For more information about National Native American Health & Fitness Day and tips for organizing a fitness event, visit the Just Move It web site at http://justmoveit.org/index.php.