Rethinking positive youth development and barriers to physical activity programs for urban Indigenous youth

Abstract

Despite the evidence that structured physical activity is critical for development related programming, issues clearly remain in designing and implementing culturally appropriate programs that meet the needs of marginalized youth and communities. There is a particular desire for programs that are developed outside of Euro-centric conceptions of health, embodiment and sport. Research in sport psychology has indicated that more studies are required to understand youth participation in sport and physical activity from diverse cultural perspectives (Blodgett et al., 2008; Schinke & Hanrahan, 2009). Indigenous community members and leaders alike have acknowledged the value of sport for Indigenous children and youth, but they also highlight key barriers for youth to access related programs. Our current study uses a community-based participatory framework (Fletcher, 2003) to engage 43 Indigenous youth (aged 12-19) from three Canadian urban centres (Kamloops, BC; Edmonton, AB; Winnipeg, MN). Sharing circles were used to explore Indigenous perspectives on the barriers that they encounter to access physical activity programs. The youth identified key socio-economic, institutional and cultural barriers that were central to limiting their access. Diverse experiences were noted between different First Nation groups as well as between those Indigenous youth that lived in urban reserves and those that did not. The results not only reveal how Indigenous youth face distinct barriers to access activity programs in urban environments, but also demonstrate that these programs, when designed in culturally appropriate manners, can empower Indigenous youth and become a significant positive influence on their growth and development.

Acknowledgments: This project was supported by Sport Canada.