Serene Smyth University of Saskatchewan NAHO 2009 National Conference Co-authors: HumbertML, LavalleeJ, Chad, KE. InstituteofAboriginal Peoples’ Health The Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS)

1. Team Spirit: The creation of a
physical activity program for First
Nations and Métis Youth.
Serene Smyth
University of Saskatchewan

2. 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)

3. The importance of physical activity
Short term benefits for Long term benefits include
youth who are active decreased risk of several chronic
are: condition including:
– Increased self esteem – Coronary heart disease
– Increased perceived physical – Hypertension
competencies
– Increased ability to cope with – Obesity
mental stress
– Type II diabetes
– Greater chances of pursuing
healthier lifestyle
– Osteoporosis
– Certain cancers

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. 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)

9. 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)

10. 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

11. “Hoops and Dreams” Team Spirit
Saskatoon
Objectives:
• 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

12. Method
Participatory Action Research
Plan, Act, Observe, Reflect
Focus group discussions
One on one Interviews
Informal Conversations

13. Findings for practice and delivery
• Barriers preventing participation for
many young Aboriginal Women
include:
• lack of childcare,
• clothing,
• food,
• communication,
• transportation
(Canadian Heritage, 2005)

14. 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.”

15. 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”

16. 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.”

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

18. 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.”

19. 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. “

20. 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.”

21. External Facilitator
• Flexibility of the minor basketball league on
ages of players and roster alterations

22. Future Program Planning
“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.”
• Communication and
advertisement about activities
and sports
• Longer season or more
programs

23. 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.