Karen Elizabeth Wapato
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 3rd 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.