Kieran Peltier, Mark Bruner, Colin McLaren, Cindy Peltier, Brenda Bruner

Understanding Wholistic Health in First Nations Youth in the Context of Sport and Physical Activity

Introduction

Understanding wholistic health in first nations youth in the context of sport and physical activity. Explore how sport and physical activity impact First Nations youth's wholistic health. Discover positive outcomes (mental health, physical adaptations) & challenges (racism).

Abstract

Sport and physical activity have been mobilized as a vehicle for positive developmental outcomes of Indigenous youth . These experiences offer Indigenous youth the capacity to attain their full potential, accrue wholistic health benefits, and live in balance. Despite this knowledge, there is still limited research to understand Indigenous perspectives in extant literature. The purpose of this research was to explore and better understand how the wholistic health of First Nations youth is impacted through participation in sport and physical activity. Using purposeful sampling, eight First Nations youth (5 males, 3 females) between the age of 14 and 18 years (Mage = 16.75 years) were recruited to participate in one of two virtual sharing circles. Results highlighted that sport and physical activity are associated with positive outcomes related to physical adaptations, mental health, mental skills, and interconnectedness for First Nations youth. However, to balance findings, this research also demonstrates room for growth in sport and physical activity participation (e.g., racism). Findings from this research add important context and nuance to the overarching belief that sport and physical activity participation is beneficial to the wholistic health of Indigenous youth.

Review

This paper addresses a critically important and under-researched area concerning the wholistic health of First Nations youth within the context of sport and physical activity. The authors rightly identify a significant gap in extant literature regarding Indigenous perspectives, despite the widely acknowledged benefits of physical activity. The explicit purpose of exploring and understanding these impacts, using a qualitative approach with First Nations youth participating in virtual sharing circles, positions this research as a valuable contribution towards decolonizing and indigenizing knowledge in health and sport sciences. A key strength of this study lies in its commitment to eliciting and centering the voices of First Nations youth themselves. The findings offer a nuanced understanding, confirming positive associations with physical adaptations, mental health, mental skills, and importantly, interconnectedness – a vital component of wholistic well-being. Crucially, the research does not shy away from highlighting areas for improvement, such as the pervasive issue of racism, which adds vital context and complexity to the discussion around sport participation benefits for this population. This balanced perspective moves beyond simplistic assumptions and provides a more authentic representation of lived experiences. While the small sample size (eight participants) is characteristic of in-depth qualitative inquiry, the abstract suggests rich data collection through sharing circles, which likely provided profound insights. Future research building upon these foundational findings could explore the specific mechanisms through which racism impacts participation and wholistic health, and could engage with larger and more diverse First Nations communities to further validate and expand these themes. Overall, this study makes a significant and timely contribution, providing essential context and nuance for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers striving to create truly beneficial and culturally safe sport and physical activity environments for First Nations youth.

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