TOPPENISH, Yakima County - Arnold Schwarzenegger, President Bush's fitness ambassador, is making an appearance in this farm town this morning that is open only to Native American youths.

Apparently without telling the muscular movie star, the Yakima Indian Nation is barring all non-Indians from his speech and had planned to bar all non-Indian media. The reason is lack of space, an organizer said.

Non-Indians are instead being directed to a later appearance in Richland, 50 miles away.

"Why would they close it off to the general public?" complained Arnold Hernandez, who runs a local gym.

Toppenish Middle School Principal Fred Diaz said he has heard no complaints from students, although he would have liked to have them meet with Schwarzenegger.

Because it is closed to the public, Schwarzenegger's visit has not been widely promoted.

The deputy director for the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which Schwarzenegger chairs, said the restrictions against non-Indians were news to him.

Matthew Guidry said he knew nothing about the restrictions and that his office had nothing to do with them.

"Obviously Arnold is not aware of that," Guidry said.

That differed with the account provided by Arlen Washines, who is coordinating the Toppenish portion of the Northwest Youth Summit on Fitness and Sports. He said the president's council staff wanted to restrict the Toppenish event to Indian youths and media.

"They initially wanted only Native American press on the site only . . . because we are talking about Native American health issues," Washines said.

The press release issued by the Northwest Youth Summit said: "The media will NOT be allowed to attend the Native American News Conference with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Toppenish."

That was changed yesterday when Indian officials agreed to allow non-Indian media to attend today's press conference. But they would not be allowed to ask questions as Schwarzenegger would answer only those written in advance by Indian media.

Toppenish, 20 miles southeast of Yakima, is the headquarters of the Yakima Nation, but only 9 percent of the 7,400 residents are Indian. Hispanics make up 62 percent of the town.

Schwarzenegger is on a nationwide tour to promote physical fitness. His appearance at noon today in Richland is open to the public.

Organizers say more than 1,000 children are expected for the Richland event, which costs $15.

Washines said 500 Indian youths from 52 Western tribes have been invited to the Toppenish appearance, and there was no additional space in the tribal Winter Lodge.

He said Schwarzenegger will address the Tribal Council to challenge its members to promote physical fitness among Native Americans. The goal is to reduce the high death rates, high incidences of diabetes, high blood pressure and suicide among Indians, Washines said.