Team Spirit: The creation of a

physical activity program for First

Nations and Métis Youth.

Serene Smyth

University of Saskatchewan

Acknowledgements

• Co-authors: Humbert ML, Lavallee J, Chad, KE.

• Institute of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health

• The Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

• Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS)

The importance of physical activity

Short term benefits for

youth who are active

are:– Increased self esteem

– Increased perceived physical competencies

– Increased ability to cope with mental stress

– Greater chances of pursuing healthier lifestyle

Long term benefits include

decreased risk of several chronic

condition including:– Coronary heart disease

– Hypertension

– Obesity

– Type II diabetes

– Osteoporosis

– Certain cancers

Sports and Health

A 3% increase in sport and recreation participation could

save Canadian tax payers $41 million in annual health

care costs.

(Sport BC, 2009)

First Nations and Métis youth

involvement in sport.

• In Canada 67% of urban Aboriginal children and youth

play sports one or more times a week.

• 63% of Aboriginal youth participate in competitive sports.

(RHS 2002/2003)

Why create a physical activity

program for First Nations and Métis

youth?

• Aboriginal youth have higher rates of overweight and obesity than non-Aboriginal youth

(Willows, 2005)

• The trend towards increased obesity among Aboriginal youth is problematic because it is associated with numerous chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), which are further linked with increased morbidity and mortality

(Kumanyika & Grier, 2006)

Why create a physical activity

program for First Nations and Métis

youth? • Sport and recreation play a

positive role in strengthening

the emotional, mental,

physical and spiritual aspects

of life.

• Sport is a primary means for

community wellness: as

preventative medicine for the

social dilemma that Aboriginal

youth face.

(Aboriginal Sport Circle, 1998)

Urban Aboriginal Youth

• More than half of Aboriginal people reside in urban areas.

• The urban Aboriginal population in Canada is very young.

(Statistics Canada, 2008)

Aboriginal youth in Saskatoon

• Saskatoon has the second highest

representation of Aboriginal people in Canada

at 9% of our population.

• The 2006 census showed that half of the

Aboriginal population in Saskatoon is under age

24.

(StatisticsCanada, 2008)

Team Spirit: Aboriginal Girls in

Sport

• National initiative to increase community sport opportunities for Aboriginal girls and young women

• Partnership between Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) and the Aboriginal Sport Circle

• Funded via Sport Canada’s Sport Participation Development Program

“Hoops and Dreams” Team Spirit

SaskatoonObjectives:

• Address the gap in sport opportunities available for young Aboriginal women in Saskatoon

• Improve health and well-being

• Empower young Aboriginal women to make healthy choices

• Promote leadership in their community

• Identify the perceived barriers and facilitators to sport participation

MethodParticipatory Action Research

Plan, Act, Observe, Reflect

Focus group discussions

One on one Interviews

Informal Conversations

Findings for practice and delivery

• Barriers preventing participation for many young Aboriginal Women include:

• lack of childcare,

• clothing,

• food,

• communication,

• transportation(Canadian Heritage, 2005)

Program Successes Providing transportation and daycare.

“There are a lot of young mothers who aren’t able to do stuff because of no daycare”

“I felt my baby was safe, being in the same building close to me”

“At Team Spirit they have daycare, that’s pretty cool. I think if they didn’t have daycare the 3 moms wouldn’t be on the team.”

Program Successes Social interaction

“The best part in participating is meeting new people, playing basketball and just getting active.”

“I just like being on the team and being together with the girls and all interested in one thing.”

“It’s just I like playing basketball. I’m not good, but I like playing with my friends”

Program Successes

• Quality coaching and mentoring

“Jacqui is a role model; she is really good at basketball.”

“I like you guys as coaches. I like how you guys push me. I wish we had more practices.”

Program Successes

• Competition

• “The best part was the games, and I like practices. I really like sports.”

Program Successes

• Learning basic sport skills

“My skills were better at the end. I just wanna play more basketball now.”

“I just didn’t know how to use the ball. But I guess it worked, practicing and stuff.”

Program Successes

• Being in a respectful environment

“Overall it is most important to be respected, not just on a team but in life. It’s important for everybody to respect one another and then you feel more welcomed. “

Program Successes

• Increased Pride and confidence

“I felt proud because we were the only Aboriginal team. I felt it when we won…really happy and proud.”

External Facilitator

• Flexibility of the minor basketball league on

ages of players and roster alterations

Future Program Planning

• Communication and

advertisement about activities

and sports

• Longer season or more

programs

“Some girls don’t even know about the activities that go on and if they do they don’t know who to talk to about it.”

Summary

• Sport and physical activity are crucial for optimal health.

• Sport has long been recognized by Aboriginal people as a means to combat some of the negative factors affecting youth.

• The development of successful sport and physical activity program depends on addressing barriers specific to local youth involvement.

• Funding can be a facilitator if used appropriately.

• Many youth desire more opportunities to be in structured programs.