SMITH LAKE, N.M. – Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren joined the Smith Lake community under the summer sun for its Just Move It (JMI), a Navajo Nation health and fitness initiative that continues to inspire families to walk, run, and embrace healthier lifestyles.
This year’s JMI was the first for President Nygren, who ran the 5k course while encouraging youth, elders, and families to maintain their physical health.
JMI is more than just exercise, it is a movement toward wellness, balance, and community strength, President Nygren expressed.
“When we walk or run together, we’re not only improving our health, but we’re also building stronger families and communities,” President Nygren said.
The course was filled with children racing ahead with laughter, elders walking steadily with determination, and families encouraging one another stride by stride.
Smith Lake residents said the president’s participation brought encouragement and showed that their leadership is invested in the health of every community.
For many, the Smith Lake JMI was more than an evening of exercise. It was a reminder that wellness is woven into the Navajo way of life.
The presence of President Nygren turned the event into both a celebration of health and a commitment to a stronger, healthier Navajo Nation.
