The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Diabetes Prevention Services hosted the Journey to Wellness Expo at the Way of Life Facility on November 12. Community members laced up their running shoes for the Turkey Trot 5K Walk & Run, which drew a large crowd of participants to the starting line. 

The Turkey Trot was organized by the SRPMIC Community Recreational Services Athletics/Guest Services and the Health & Human Services Department. Community members of all ages came out, with some participants dressed as turkeys, keeping in line with the event’s theme. 

After the last of the walkers and runners crossed the finish line, the activities moved indoors at the WOLF, where information and activity booths were set up to greet the expo patrons. The emcee for the event was local comedian Wolf Brown, a member of the Gila River Indian Community. 

Among the special guests at the Journey to Wellness Expo was Nephi Craig, a trained chef from the White Mountain Apache Tribe who provided a demonstration on incorporating traditional foods into contemporary cooking. He showed how to make an Apache seed mix and use Indigenous cultivars, which historically were foraged in the wild. 

Diabetes Prevention Services hosted the expo to educate Community members about the importance of their wellbeing and motivate them to take advantage of the various wellness programs available in the Community to incorporate healthful eating and physical fitness into their lives.