Indigenous Voices in Programs

ARPA’s Reconciliation Journey

The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association would like to acknowledge that our role in exploring Indigenous Voices in Programs is one of allyship, not expertise. As recreation leaders and a member-based organization, we must lead by example in how we collaborate and move forward in reconciliation with Indigenous partners.

We are committed to action on reconciliation and acting in allyship. As part of this commitment, we aim to highlight Indigenous-informed ways of enhancing community health and wellness through community programming. In doing this, we hope that we can all move forward together in a good way.

Healthy Indigenous Communities

In this section of Programs, we will focus on how to appropriately and respectfully incorporate and adjust programming to meet an Indigenous holistic view of health. It’s important to remember that each Indigenous community, nation and band is unique and different. When looking to support Indigenous programming, research and create connections with the specific Indigenous community with whom you’d like to partner.

Within an Indigenous context, the health of a community is deeply interconnected with Indigenous ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being⁽¹⁾. This interconnected holistic view of health and wellness is achieved through balancing and nurturing all aspects of health, including⁽²⁾: Mental, Emotional Spiritual and Physical Health. Achieving a balance in all aspects of health requires honouring and incorporating Indigenous⁽²⁾:

Culture
Traditions
Language
Medicine
Relationships with family, community and the land

Indigenous community health and wellness activities often blur the lines between sociocultural practices, connection to land and spirituality.

For example, healthy eating in an Indigenous community may incorporate Traditional Food Systems. Traditional food and its related practices are deeply interconnected with many Indigenous cultures, traditions and languages and are included in a combination of ceremonies, songs, dances and stories⁽³⁾. Traditional Food Systems also tie Indigenous Peoples to the land and Creator through practices of stewardship, reciprocity, and ceremony⁽⁴⁾.

Want to learn more about this topic? Check out our free Healthy Eating in Recreation Settings (HERS) eCourse and scroll down to Module 9: Indigenous Traditional Food Systems.

Video: The Grandmothers’ Circle on Wellness

In this video, a group of multi-nation Elders from the Treaty 7 area have come together to share women’s teachings, learnings from the land, and explore diverse views on what a healthy community means to them. Featured Elders: Monica Chiefmoon (Blackfoot), Edmee Comstock (Métis), Doreen Healy (Blackfoot), Alice Kaquitts (Stoney Nakoda), Kerrie Moore (Cree/ Métis).

(Length: 90mins)

Tips for Understanding Indigenous Programs

Begin creating Indigenous-focused Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) community programs by navigating the following 3 steps.

1) Understand Your Role as an Ally

As we seek to support Indigenous community HEAL programming, we must understand how we create community programs within allyship. The history of Indigenous People’s community wellness and access to health services is one of the barriers, inequalities and discrimination. Many of the health disparities that exist in Indigenous communities today are the result of⁽⁵⁾:

The loss of traditional spiritual and medicinal practices due to residential schools
The poor nutritional and living conditions within residential schools
The loss of health autonomy as a result of the Indian Act of 1876
Discrimination and poor access to health services

In recognition of this history, healthy community programming should focus on building community capacity to support Indigenous sovereignty by prioritizing⁽⁶⁾:

Self-efficacy
Self-determination
Autonomy
Wholism

As we work to act in allyship with Indigenous community partners, it is essential that Indigenous communities and leaders guide the planning, implementation and evaluation of all community programs and interventions. As allies, our role is to support and deliver the community’s vision of health and wellness, and to create space for Indigenous peoples to exercise their autonomy.

For more information on working and partnering with Indigenous Communities in a good way, check out our Indigenous Voices in Partnerships page!

2) Reflect on How to Bring EDI into HEAL Programs

Indigenous Peoples across Canada are an important equity-deserving group within Canada. Due to historical and current events, Indigenous Peoples may face many barriers or inequities, such as⁽⁷⁾:

Cultural assimilation
Lack of culturally appropriate services
Poverty
Racism
Violence against women
Inability to access services

Intentional consideration is required to ensure that Indigenous Peoples experience equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) within community programming. How we ensure that programs are equitable and inclusive will vary from community to community based on their unique experiences and the systems in which they live.

Generally speaking, it may be helpful to consider the following:

How will the program affect the community?
What role is the community playing in the program’s planning, delivery and evaluation? Are there more ways to include them in the process?
Are there physical barriers to their participation?
Is the programming relevant and culturally appropriate?
What can you change to ensure inclusion? For example:
- Changing the cost of programs
- Changing the timing of programs
- Including a diversity of marketing and promotional strategies
- Incorporating inclusive language

Further your understanding by visiting our EDI – An Indigenous Context page!

Steps for applying an EDI Lens

Visit the People Pillar of the Healthy Communities Framework and follow the suggested steps for applying an EDI lens to your program(s):

Consider Your Diversity
Check Your Assumptions
Ask About Inclusion
Be an Ally
Take Action

Getting started with an EDI lens

Key Considerations:

As we look to create Healthy Eating and Active Living programming, it’s essential to recognize the interconnectedness of Indigenous health. To move forward together, we must provide space and uplift the voices of Indigenous communities to lead the way in creating HEAL programming that intersects and incorporates holistic health practices.

3) Build Cultural Relevance & Appropriateness into HEAL Programs

Creating culturally relevant and appropriate programs is crucial to supporting Indigenous communities. Building culturally appropriate programs⁽⁸⁾:

Shows respect for Indigenous values and traditions
Improves the ability to connect with the community meaningfully
Increases equity and inclusion within the program
Increases the chances of success and impact
Builds trust

The best way to build a culturally relevant program is to have the community inform and direct the program’s planning, delivery and evaluation.

In addition to getting input and direction from the community, it may be helpful to consider the following questions⁽⁴⁾:

What major historical or modern events have contributed to the community’s current experience and status?
What are the community’s demographics?
What organizations successfully serve the community? What makes them successful?
What are some of the traditions of the community?
Who are the community’s formal or informal leaders, and what role do they play in promoting HEAL?
What languages do they speak?
What are the community’s traditional foods, and how do they intersect with culture, medicine and ceremony?

Key Considerations:

Remember this! The best way to ensure that Indigenous Peoples have equitable and inclusive programs is to bring them into the planning process! They are the experts of their communities and will know best how to plan them to be inclusive. As we work in allyship to create healthier communities, we must support Indigenous self-determination and governance over their communities and the changes they want to make.

Community Spotlight #1

The Iiyika’kimaat Program: A Place to be Brave

The Iiyika’kimaat program, an initiative for youth aged 12 to 21, encourages this deepening of cultural understanding by providing opportunities for young people to engage with land-based teaching and the wisdom of elders and knowledge keepers. As youth learned about the land and harvesting healthy food, they developed curiosity on how to prepare their crops.

Building Culturally Appropriate Programs

“Through recreation, Aboriginal children and youth gain a sense of belonging, identity, mastery, generosity and an understanding of their relationship to others, the community and their nation.”
BCRPA Sports and Recreation in Aboriginal Communities ⁽¹⁵⁾

Expanding from the section above, Indigenous programming should reflect the interconnectedness of health. Active Living and Healthy Eating programming often occur together, incorporating traditional knowledge and activities. Use the tips below to help inform your HEAL programming.

When working with Indigenous Youth, programmers should⁽¹⁵⁾:

Create positive and encouraging environments that foster conversation and trust
Help children and youth foster relationships with others and the land
Encourage youth to be proud of and comfortable sharing their background, beliefs and practices
Focus activities on children and youths’ strengths and the opportunity for skill building

As you build your program, remember to⁽¹⁵⁾:

Provide cultural awareness training sessions to staff
Bring children and youth into the program planning, decision making and evaluation process
Let the community guide the program’s development, implementation and evaluation
Seek to build strong relationships with the community before beginning program planning

Healthy Eating

In addition to eating a diet high in nutrient-dense foods, healthy eating for Indigenous Peoples may include eating traditional foods such as⁽⁹⁾:

Fish
Berries
Seafood
Wild game
Native plants

When building Indigenous healthy eating programs, consider⁽⁹⁾:

Teaching traditional food gathering skills (i.e. hunting, forging or harvesting medicine and ceremonial plants)
Connecting nutrition and healthy eating to the land and nature (i.e. consider teaching agricultural or gardening skills)
Incorporating intergenerational knowledge keepers or Elders into programming. Older generations and community knowledge keepers may bring a depth of traditional and cultural knowledge to the program.
Providing time for people and communities to connect over food⁽¹⁰⁾

Traditional Indigenous food practices carry cultural considerations and historical context that requires sensitivity. Programmers need to be aware of⁽¹⁰⁾:

The historical context of food and nutrition in residential schools
Historical or current community food insecurity within Indigenous communities
The community’s traditional cultural protocols around hosting Elders. Check out our Elders Protocol page for more information and guidance.
The safety of a community’s food and drinking water. Some communities may be in areas under water safety advisories or in areas where the contamination of country foods with heavy metals is a risk ^(11,12).

Check out these resources to guide and inform traditional healthy eating programs!

Indigenous Recipes from the Dietitians of Canada⁽¹³⁾
Module 9: Indigenous Traditional Food Systems from Communities ChooseWell’s eCourse
Setting the Table for a Healthy Food Conversation Tips for care providers working within Aboriginal Communities⁽¹⁰⁾
Traditional Foods Fact Sheet⁽¹⁴⁾

Active Living

Recreation provides an engaging and experiential way to teach Indigenous youth cultural values/protocol, history, traditional teachings and community healing⁽¹⁵⁾.In addition to mainstream recreational, sporting and exercise activities, Indigenous active living programs may include⁽¹⁶⁾:

Traditional hunting and gathering practices
Connecting to the land
Participating in cultural ceremonies, dances, and gatherings
Celebrating community identity
Establishing friendships

Develop Indigenous active living programs that incorporate one or more of the following:

Traditional food gathering skills such as hunting, foraging or harvesting medicine and ceremonial plants
Traditional ceremonial dances or Indigenous games
Intergenerational, knowledge keeper or Elder teachings or components. Older generations and community knowledge keepers may bring a depth of traditional and cultural knowledge to the program
Opportunities for the community to connect through sport, games, ceremonies, land or traditions ⁽¹⁵⁾
Opportunities to connect youth to successful Indigenous athletes to instill aspirational thinking

Incorporating traditional practices into Indigenous Active Living programs requires awareness of history and cultural protocols. Programmers should seek to educate themselves and be aware that:

Indigenous athletes have faced historic racism and exclusion in Canadian sports
Indigenous People’s have lost traditional and ceremonial knowledge due to residential schools
Not all Indigenous people have knowledge of their culture, issues and events ⁽¹⁵⁾
Not all Indigenous people will embrace their heritage⁽¹⁵⁾
Every Indigenous person has their own experiences and relationship with their history

Check out these resources to guide and inform your traditional recreational and active living programs!

Making Exercise More Convenient: First Nation Health Authority ⁽¹⁷⁾
Recreation Director’s Handbook: A guide for recreation delivery in Aboriginal communities ⁽¹⁶⁾
Aboriginal Coaching Modules developed by Aboriginal Sport Circle ⁽¹⁸⁾

Key Considerations:

Following the community’s lead is the best way to avoid cultural misunderstandings. They are the experts of their own experiences and can help programmers prevent missteps. However, if you stumble, it’s important to apologize and correct your actions.

Community Spotlight #2

Samson Youth & Sport Community Freezer Program (2021 ChooseWell Champion Award)

For over 10 years, Kacey Yellowbird has been an influential figure in his community of Samson Cree Nation. Among many successful initiatives, back in 2010, Kacey turned his grandfather’s vision into a tangible mission and developed the Community Freezer Program – a program that teaches young members of the community how to properly harvest the animals retrieved from a hunt.

View more community stories here

Community Spotlight #3

Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Virtual Health Challenge (2021 Most Significant Change Award)

During the pandemic, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation (Treaty 8 Territory) turned to virtual platforms like Zoom and Facebook to run their health challenge.

The challenge included physical activity and healthy eating programs which helped all community members (from youth to elders) stay connected, healthy and motivated from the safety of their homes.

View more community stories here

Continue Exploring Programs

Programs – Home

University of Calgary. [Internet]. Healthy Communities; 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://research.ucalgary.ca/one-health/research/healthy-communities
First Nations Health Authority. [Internet].First Nations Perspective on Health and Wellness; 2012 [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.fnha.ca/wellness/wellness-for-first-nations/first-nations-perspective-on-health-and-wellness
Woodley, E., Crowley, E., Dey de Pryck, J., anf Carmen, A. Cultural indicators of Indigenous Peoples’ food and agro-ecological systems. SARD Initiative: People shaping their sustainable futures. [report on internet]. 2008 [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.indigenousfoodsystems.org/sites/default/files/resources/Cultural_Indicators_paperApril2008.pdf
Indigenous Food Systems Network. [Internet]. Indigenous Land and Food Systems; n.d. [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.indigenousfoodsystems.org/
First Nations Health Authority. [Internet]. Wellness Streams; 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.fnha.ca/wellness/wellness-for-first-nations/wellness-streams
First Nations Health Authority. [Internet]. Our History, Our Health; 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.fnha.ca/wellness/wellness-for-first-nations/our-history-our-health
City of Ottawa & City for All Women Initiative. Equity and inclusion lens; Diversity Snapshots Aborginial Peoples. [report on internet]. 2010 [cited 2022 July 8]. Available from: https://www.cawi-ivtf.org/sites/default/files/pdf/publications/EI-Lens/DS-Aboriginal.pdf
Community Toolbox. [Internet]. Section 4. Adapting Community Interventions for Different Cultures and Communities; 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/analyze/choose-and-adapt-community-interventions/cultural-adaptation/main
First Nations Health Authority. [Internet]. Eat Healthy; 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.fnha.ca/wellness/wellness-for-first-nations/wellness-streams/eating-healthy
First Nations Health Authority. Setting the Table for a Healthy Food Conversation. [report on internet]. The Health Authority; 2014 [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.fnha.ca/WellnessSite/WellnessDocuments/VIHA-Setting-The-Table-For-A-Healthy-Food-Conversation.pdf
Assembly of First Nations Environmental Stewardship Unit. Traditional Foods: Are they Safe for First Nations Consumption? [report on internet]. The Assembly; 2007 [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.afn.ca/uploads/files/env/traditional_foods_safety_paper_final.pdf
Earle, L. Traditional Aboriginal Diets and Health. [report on internet]. 2013 [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.ccnsa-nccah.ca/docs/emerging/FS-TraditionalDietsHealth-Earle-EN.pdf
Dietitians of Canada. Aboriginal Nutrition Network Indigenous Recipe Collection. [report on internet]. 2016 [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.dietitians.ca/DietitiansOfCanada/media/Documents/Resources/Aboriginal-Nutrition-Network-ANN-Indigenous-recipe-collection-2016.pdf
First Nations Health Authority. First Nations Traditional Foods Fact Sheets. [report on internet]. The Health Authority; n.d. [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.fnha.ca/WellnessSite/WellnessDocuments/Traditional_Food_Facts_Sheets.pdf
British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association. Sport and Recreation in Aboriginal Communities. [report on internet]. BCRPA; n.d. [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.bcrpa.bc.ca/media/34870/aboriginal.pdf
Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs. Recreation Director’s Handbook: A guide for recreation delivery in Aboriginal communities. [report on internet]. The Government; 2008 [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.gov.mb.ca/inr/publications/pubs/recreation_directors_handbook_2008.pdf
First Nations Health Authority. [Internet]. Be Active:Making Exercise More Convenient; 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.fnha.ca/wellness/wellness-for-first-nations/wellness-streams/being-active
Aboriginal Sport Circle. [Internet]. Aboriginal Coaching Modules (ACM); 2022c [cited 2022 October 22]. Available from: https://www.aboriginalsportcircle.ca/aboriginal-coaching-modules

ARPA’s Reconciliation Journey

Healthy Indigenous Communities

Video: The Grandmothers’ Circle on Wellness