LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE TERRITORIES Dennis Banks, 77,
a cofounder of the American Indian Movement, has announced a 18,000
mile motorcycle run across America with hundreds of American Indians
participating to "declare war on diabetes."
His announcement was distributed through a news release Sunday
from his foundation, the Nowa Cuming Institute. The news release
states:
"The Nowa Cuming Institute has issued a Declaration
of War on Diabetes."
"Diabetes is at an epidemic state in Indian country and must be
halted,"
said Banks, who was diagnosed with diabetes four years ago and
has reversed his diabetes through a strong diet.
The
motorcycle run will have four starting locations in Seattle, San
Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego on August 11 with the final
destination of the nation's capital, Washington, DC on September
10, 2014.
Throughout the various routes across America, motorcyclists
will stop at various American Indian reservations and communities
as they journey to Washington.
Once in Washington, the group will visit members of Congress
and present them with a national diabetes policy, according to Banks.
This will be the second endeavor by Banks to draw attention
to the ill-effects of diabetes in Indian country. In 2011, he led
the "Longest Walk 3 Reversing Diabetes" that took the long
walkers to 72 American Indian reservations and communities before
they arrived in Washington.
"If we don't address this medical issue now, there will no one
in the seventh generation who will be healthy and if we don't take
action now to stop diabetes, they will condemn this generation,"
said Banks.
The Nowa Institute released the announcement so that tribes
and others who want to be part of the pre-planning of this historic
motorcycle run can do so now.
We are asking people of interest to aid in this "War on Diabetes."
said Banks.
Those interested in assisting and supplying diabetes materials
may email Goody Cloud at ndn_queen_bee@yahoo.com.
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