Sicangu Lakota
Upland, California
15 years old
Student, Upland High School,
Upland, California

Hello.  My name is Sanaa Johnson.  My background is Lakota Sioux, African American, Creole, and Mexican.  I’ve been a part of this program last year and absolutely feel in love with it.  I have to admit when I first got there I was nervous to even get in the water and absolutely scared to try the diet.  But when the first night was over it was a challenge to me, and I wanted to overcome it.  The bond that I grew with everyone was amazing and is another thing I would like to experience.  For the simple fact that hopefully there will be new people, I can help them through their journey like our elders helped us.  

I am a sophomore in high school; I attend Upland High School.  I’m very much into programs at school—for example the girls’ water polo team, swim for freshman year, and I even run a Bible study club.  Outside of school, I belong to a club called Foothill Waterpolo Club.  For all these things on my hand I would say I have good time management for the most part.  The PATHSTAR program helps Natives and Non Natives with health and physical work outs.  In my eyes I feel I can better the program with my attitude, communication skills, and much more. 

Upland, California
16 years old
Student, Upland High School, Upland, California

My name is Savannah Trujillo.  I’m 16 years old, and I’m a Student at Upland High School.  When PATHSTAR was first brought to my attention, my interest was solely based on the thrill of swimming in the bay from Alcatraz.  As I ventured deeper into the true meaning of PATHSTAR, I realized I had affiliation with the goals that this program had.  My family has a long line of diabetic problems where both types one and two are very prominent.  My mom, brother, and both of my grandmothers are diagnosed diabetics.  The fact that eating habits and weight problems contributed to my mom and grandma’s diabetes encourages me to make a change within my community in order to prevent this disease as well as obesity.  

As a second year participant, I definitely want to expand the knowledge I have already gained.  Participating in PATHSTAR 2016 was one of the most influential as well as challenging experiences in my life.  It is also one of the most honorable.  My best friend, Sanaa, and I have managed to bring the eating habits and healthy tips back to our homes.  From different styles of cooking to daily exercises, PATHSTAR has been truly beneficial to my family as well as myself.  The most drastic being the intense improvement of my brother’s A1C.  I would really like to participate in PATHSTAR again in order to keep up with the health of my family and those around me. 

Colville Confederated Tribes
Plummer, Idaho
59 years old
Benewah Medical Center: Suicide Case Manager

My name is Theresa M Bessette.  I am an enrolled member of the Colville Tribe and am also a current veteran of the National Guard.  This is my 5^th year returning to PATHSTAR.  My journey started a few years ago, and has moved along well with some bumps in the road.

I am still on a journey for the rest of my life and thriving every moment that I breathe, knowing I have a wonderful support team when I need it the most.  As I look back when I first started, saying to myself I know you have come so far in life as a healthy person.  I can now do events and complete them when I wasn’t able to before at all.  I look at my pictures and take a deep breath and feel proud where and who I have become. While having tears in my eyes, saying to each and every one who I have crossed paths with during my journey in life, I am so grateful to say you have touched my life in one way or another.  I love to brag and talk about PATHSTAR to many people who say I look good and how do I keep going.  I am not done by far and it will take some time, but not ready to throw in the towel and say I am done forever!

During the week, I’d like to learn more about feeling more confident about myself and learning to say it’s okay to hit bumps in my life and keep moving to my goals.  Being able to swim and glide through the water like a fish.  Staying positive on my eating habits and staying on track with my protein intake, especially working out 3 times a day.

The learning I’d like to bring back home and apply in my own life is being able to praise myself and like who I am and accept the changes The learning I’d like to bring back and share with my family and community is the long term goals and staying healthy and teaching others who need support or advice.

My team’s commitment to this experience during the year following Alcatraz Swim Week is teaching others what we have learned through our week at PATHSTAR and how to encourage them to join the team who will stay together no matter what comes in your path to a better and great looking person. 

Teaching them about how to be passionate and believe in yourself. Three goals I commit to in participating in the PATHSTAR program are

• Staying focused when I am down and out
• Feeling good about myself when I think the worst about me and the way I still look.
• Staying committed to my community and continue to eat healthy and exercise.

 Colville Confederated Tribes, Nez Perce Band
Coulee Dam, Washington
59 years old
Registered Nurse, Area Agency on Aging,
Colville Confederated Tribes

I would like to participate in the PATHSTAR Alcatraz Swim Week, because this would be my 3^rd swim, and with each swim I appreciate even more the message of the PATHSTAR Organization. It has taken a while for the message to truly grip me. I know that excess sugar has cost me my health and attributed to my diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. I was diagnosed in 2004, but for most of the years I have had diabetes I have been able to control it with diet and exercise. PATHSTAR has really sealed the ability for me to do this for myself.

I realized an even deeper understanding while we were presenting our story at the Native Women’s and Men’s Wellness Conference. It was there, I truly got the meaning of the question:  why would one offer junk food, to their loved one, if they really loved them, and if they knew their loved one was at risk for developing diabetes, or even worse, had diabetes. 

When I got home, I had some See’s Candy for Easter for my kids. I really had to look at it. See’s was my deceased mother’s special candy, which she gave to us kids at special holidays. I did not give my kids the candy. It is so hard to say, but See’s Candy is not a good gift to give to my family. This is how I knew I had received an even deeper message this year from the PATHSTAR Swim Week of 2016.

I would like to know more about growing, buy and preparing food for myself and loved ones. I have never grown a garden. And I have been on the constant move for 5 years, but I am at a point in my life where now is the time to begin learning a better way of living. I want to find a way, where I live, to make open water swimming a part of my life. The challenges are a limited warm season to swim in the state of Washington. But I feel the best when I able to swim. 

I would like to continue to promote PATHSTAR, in any way I can. I believe it has made such an impact on my life and changed me as a person. It has made me aware of strength and abilities I never knew I had. I want to share this with everyone.  I also hope to start Yoga classes with elders and co-workers. I am in the midst of being certified as a Chair Yoga instructor, and will offer Chair Yoga to the elders at the four Senior Meal Sites on the reservation. I will also be providing senior education at the Meal sites in the coming year. My job will have me working exclusively for the elders, but I also will hold Yoga for the workers at the Government Center in Nespelem. Yoga and PATHSTAR are two things I wish to give to others.

Oglala Lakota
Kyle, South Dakota
33 years old
E911 IT Specialist

My name is Samantha White; I was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I attended and completed my education at Little Wound School, University of Minnesota and Oglala Lakota College with hopes of continuing my education and receiving a PhD in Business Administration. I have always considered myself a professional student because I feel that I could never be truly happy in life without challenges and continuous learning. I’ve had migraines my entire life and about 10 years ago I had to give up meats because doctors said it was affecting my kidneys. So I have been changing the way I eat by consuming more organic and clean foods. It has been a very good choice for my health. I want to learn more and I feel the PATHSTAR program will help me learn more.

Ever since my sister recommended it, the PATHSTAR Alcatraz swim has been on my list of things to do for a few years now. I try to live my life as clean and as active as possible. Clean eating and healthy lifestyle are a constant, ever changing goal of mine so I hope to learn more information on the lifestyle such as food, recipes, etc. Everything I learn from this trip will be used to the benefit my family and me.

My commitment would be to take my experience and not only teach people about it but live it. Opportunities are very hard to come by living on the Reservation. Especially one that would help change one’s way of life. My sister and brother in law had nothing but good things to say about their experience. They told me how they had to eat healthy for a week in preparation for the swim. They thought it would be a very good program for me.

My three goals would be to live healthy, eat healthy, and be more active.

Pilamayaye/ Thank You

Colville Confederated Tribes, Okanogan Band
Spokane Valley, Washington
35 years old
Counselor, Kalispel Tribe, and Lifestyle Coach,
YMCA of the Inland Northwest

My participation in PATHSTAR is something that has stuck with me over the years. I was reflecting on how a few of the program tips are still active in my daily life. My personal and professional growth are thriving since PATHSTAR. What you focus on grows! If I were to return it would be my third year and, as they say, third time's the charm!!

Since my participation in 2015, I have taken on a new role in the Spokane community as a Lifestyle Coach with the YMCA of the Inland Northwest. As a Lifestyle Coach I will be actively working with clients who are diagnosed pre-diabetic. I feel PATHSTAR will help me see my new role with a fresh lens and even help me relate to my clients better. 

Considering my return from PATHSTAR, my hope is to bring courage. For myself, my family and community. Creating change in life is often feared and we tend to decide it's safer to stay where we are. I would like to bring courage to those around me to push past the self-limiting comfort zones. I would like to be able to encourage those around me to find or redefine what healthy looks like for their life. Help them set goals and move into action towards those personal goals. 

While attending the Alcatraz swim week in the past I have always done my best to be a team player. My second year I fearfully embraced the role of a kitchen coach. I am a firm believer that most learn better with hands on experience. This was a great role as it gave the chance to develop planning, prepping and cooking skills. I am committed to giving kitchen coach another try. 

Three goals for Alcatraz Swim Week 2017

1. Make a new friend!
2. Embrace Hyde Hill! 
3. Gain confidence in my swimming and life skills! 

 Navajo
Rocklin, California
55 years old
Employee at Sam’s Club, Roseville, California

My name is Sylvia Valdez. I would like to participate in the PATHSTAR Alcatraz swim week because I feel that I have worked hard in these last 5 years of working the diabetes prevention program and that this is my next step. I started my personal journey a long time ago. I tried so many programs and groups and nothing seemed like it was going to work.  In 2007 I was 385; that was a wakeup call for me.  I was like wow I must do something. So, weight loss surgery here I come. I had to lose 20% of my body weight to have the surgery.

I was fully committed the year of classes, learning how to eat basically nothing, ready for all my hair to fall out, supplements, and side effects for the rest of my life because I had no control. I had just given up on ever being able to be normal and have normal foods ever again. That is until one day I got a call from a friend she told me that someone who had the surgery died and all they did was eat pancakes. I thought to myself there must be another way. My weight now was running about 350-360 range— good but not good enough for me.

In 2011, I was introduced to Chapa-de by other people in my family; they have been going for years but I never really understood how this placed worked. I had my first check up and I was then introduced to the diabetes prevention program. I was very resistant at first, trying to understand what is the angle? What do these people get out of helping me? Wondering to myself is this really going to work? How am I going to benefit from all this? I just knew inside of me that I had to just shut up and listen. In other groups, they teach you to just be quit listen and take notes and soon you will understand. Now I get it.  I need to take that next step.

During my PATHSTAR week, I’d like to learn about having more control over myself, my choices, and emotions. My down fall is the waiting too long to eat, eating and going to bed, along with the emotional eating although I have gotten better but I need more tools and better options to continues my success.

The learning I would bring back home to apply in my own life most definitely will be self-confidence. People tell me how inspiring I am to them and how I give them hope and joy but I would like to feel some of that for myself too. I have no problem helping others find the light; it is myself who gets lost in the dark sometimes.

The learning I would bring back with me to share with my family and my community is a can-do attitude. If I can do it anyone can I would be like an ambassador for healthy eating—not a nag but more like one of those ‘this instead of that’ kind of people.     

The commitment to this experience during the following year is just that to keep this commitment and not break it, to follow rules and understand that this is a new experience and a privilege, not a right.

The three goals I will commit to in participating in the PATHSTAR program are getting my sponsorship money, educating people on what this program is and how it helps the community and to make myself a better person. I have worked very hard and I think this is the next step that I need to help continue my progress. When you share your story with others it helps to know you are not alone. I have been though a lot, seen a lot, and understand.

 Cherokee
Smartsville, California
52 years old

I never in my wildest dreams ever could have thought I would ever have the opportunity to join in on such an amazing adventure.  I perceived it to be that only super athletic fit individuals could accomplish the feat so it was never on my mind that I would ever do the swim or dream of doing the swim from Alcatraz.  Until now. After seeing the PATHSTAR film it dawned on me that there were several individuals of different ages, shapes, and abilities all able to do Alcatraz to San Francisco with the aid of such a wonderful group as PATHSTAR.  That was when the excitement for me built up so that at the end of the presentation I raised my hand and said, “I want to do that.”

My name is Valarae.  I turned 52 in March and, since the 50’s were coming up fast I decided I wanted to be Fabulous, Fit, and to have Fun in my 50’s.  But I was not healthy.  So I went on my own personal journey to find a way to become the person I had once been.  I started out small, grew, learned, and I am still learning.  I am finding my true self.  And along the way I am getting back to a healthier weight, although I have not reached my target goal.  I am making strides in the correct direction. 

Medical problems played a huge role in my unhealthiness.  Having 10 surgeries in 10 years was hard on my body.  I gained a little more weight that I could just not lose with each surgery.  I had resigned myself that I would forever just be a fat blob the rest of my life.  That was my life.  I had to accept it, and I did.  Until our 25th anniversary road trip changed my life, my mindset, and my real journey began in October of 2015. 

I became my own advocate.  I read that the more sugar you eat, the more you crave.  I was eating way too much sugar.  At least 5 times the recommended daily allowance—-close to topping 500 grams a day.  So I started with this one little thing.  I would get rid of all processed sugars—-quit cold turkey—-and see if it made any difference.  Oh boy, did it ever!  The first month I had weight loss of over 10 pounds. 

This was not another diet I was trying; it was a lifestyle change, and that big light bulb in my head went off.  If I just gave up one ingredient, like sugar, cutting it down to less than 10% of what I’d consumed, I could lose weight, too, while trying to balance my ‘gut health.’  Who wouldn’t give up sugar!  This was my ‘AHA’ moment! Something inside me said keep going, this time, and don’t look back. 

I later gave up all white flour.  Added in more exercise.  Changed my eating habits once again.  Portion control, weighing my food, and logging it every meal.  And I started to see the dietician at Chapa De Indian Health in Grass Valley and Auburn, a person who has also swum Alcatraz and has guided me on my healthy lifestyle journey. 

My goal is to try and swim 2 days a week in the ocean.  I will be walking and hiking with a good friend over the summer at least 3 days a week. My goal is to be active every day of the week, getting and logging in at over 10,000 steps/day. I am making great strides but still have a long way to go.  Help me to continue my journey, to becoming fabulous, fit, and having fun in my 50’s.