Fitness Initiative

The goal of the Narragansett Indian Tribal Police Department (NITPD) Fitness Initiative is to provide quality health, wellness, strength and fitness programming for the Narragansett Indian Tribe and surrounding community, with a focus on leveraging this programming to support and grow youth development and mentorship opportunities.  However, it is important to note that this programming is open to all, regardless of age, fitness level, ethnicity, and so forth. Through this critical federal investment, we will be positioned to significantly amplify this critical programming to meet increased need – now and in the future -- and drive broad impact. 

Unfortunately, in recent years nutrition and weight control have become major concerns for Native American communities.  For example, according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health, American Indian and Alaska Native adults are 1.6 times more likely to be obese than Caucasians. In addition, almost 33 percent of all American Indians and Alaskan Natives are obese.  Therefore, while the increased health, wellness and fitness opportunities made possible through this investment will be open to all regardless of ethnic background, there is no questioning how important these resources will be for our Narragansett Indian Tribe.  

Through this investment we will be able to more than double the number of youth benefitting from our afterschool programming.  Additionally, with the ability to offer free-of-cost transportation we will also be able to support increased numbers of adults with transportation issues, especially elderly residents living in surrounding communities.  (Residents from our surrounding communities are not in walking distance and town buses do not travel to this area putting the youth and elderly at a significant disadvantage and driving disproportionately unfavorable health, wellness and quality-of-life conditions.)