Wakaya: Rising Up for Choctaw Youth Health

The Wakaya program is a culturally grounded, outdoor experiential intervention for Choctaw youth aged 12–19 designed to improve physical activity, healthy eating, and reduce alcohol and drug use, drawing on Choctaw history, traditions, and values. This randomized trial tests the program's effectiveness by comparing youth who receive it immediately to those who wait 3 months before starting. Eligible participants must be enrolled members of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma living within tribal regions for at least 12 months, and meet at least one behavioral risk criterion such as excess sedentary time, low physical activity, or frequent consumption of sugary beverages or fast food; youth with severe drug use, severe food allergies, physical disabilities preventing exercise, or psychotic symptoms are excluded. Participation involves up to 20 group sessions, individual motivational interviewing calls, an overnight culture camp, a Trail of Tears Walk, and community leadership activities over about 12 months, with behavioral surveys and physical assessments at multiple time points. This summary was prepared using AI to help patients understand the study in plain language.