Abstract
The 2011 National Household Survey found that the number of Aboriginal peoples in Canada aged 65 and over has increased by over 46 % since the 2006 Canadian Census (Statistics Canada 2011). Despite this dramatic increase in older Aboriginal peoples, there is a dearth of research concerning this cohort, especially regarding their engagement with physical activity. Using a case study methodology, this research sought to examine if the Northwest Territories (NWT) Recreation and Parks Association’s (NWTRPA) Elders in Motion (EIM) program is culturally relevant for the participants. For this research we used a postcolonial theoretical framework since many of the participants in EIM are Aboriginal older adults and have experienced, and continue to experience, the effects of colonialism. To address this aim we conducted nine semi-structured interviews with EIM program leaders and NWTRPA staff, and supplemented these with archival research of EIM program documents. The findings show that the NWTRPA has adapted many EIM program documents for the participants and thus attempts to be culturally relevant for the participants. There are, however, aspects of the program that are not culturally relevant and actually reinforce colonialism, specifically with the program content (i.e. activities that are a part of EIM). In light of these findings, recommendations are offered for the NWTRPA on how the EIM program can become more culturally relevant for its Aboriginal participants.
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Notes
The term Aboriginal refers to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples living in Canada, while the term Indigenous is used to make reference to Indigenous peoples in the rest of the world and to be consistent with what is used in the literature.
We use “populations” (plural) to recognize the diverse Aboriginal groups that make up Canadian Aboriginal populations.
Definitions of acronyms used in the paper.
ALEP: Active Living Exercise Program
APS: Aboriginal Peoples Survey
CCAA: Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging
EIM: Elders in Motion
GNWT: Government of the Northwest Territories
NWT: Northwest Territories
NWTRPA: Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks Association
RHS: First Nations Regional Health Survey
The term Elders is used in this paper to discuss older adults living in the NWT. We use this definition based on its use by the NWTRPA, while understanding that an Elder in Aboriginal cultures has a different and significant meaning.
There is increasing recognition of the importance of identifying expert sources in research, particularly in the NWT and particularly with Aboriginal peoples. The names of the participants that appear do so with permission (obtained through a consent form). For those who did not want their name used, we used pseudonyms or anonymized their quotes.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Elders in Motion program leaders and NWTRPA staff who participated in this research and shared their experiences with us. This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research GSM-130105, Northern Scientific Training Program, and the Aurora Research Institute.
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Appendix
Appendix
Interview Guide – NWTRPA’s Elders in Motion
Program Leaders
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1)
What is your position in your community? Who is your employer?
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2)
How are you involved with the Elders in Motion program? Were you involved in the past or are you currently involved with it?
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3)
Why did you decide to become involved with Elders in Motion?
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4)
How long have you been involved with Elders in Motion?
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5)
What Elders in Motion courses have you attended?
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6)
Which course or courses did you like the best? Why? (effective, fun, easy to learn, etc.)
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7)
Which course or courses did you like the least? Why?
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8)
Which course was the most useful for you for running programs for Elders in your community?
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9)
What programs are currently available for Elders in your community?
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a.
What is an example of an activity that elders like in your community?
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b.
How long have these been going on?
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10)
Do Elders do things outside of these programs?
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11)
Do you think it is important for Elders in your community to be physically active? Why/why not?
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12)
What motivates Elders in your community to participate in programs, come out to events,
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13)
What, if anything, is currently happening specifically with Elders in Motion in your community?
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14)
What do you think is the importance of having Elders in Motion in your community?
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15)
What do you see as some of the impacts of Elders in Motion on the individuals and the communities?
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16)
What have been some of the challenges in starting and maintaining Elders in Motion?
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a.
How have you dealt with these challenges?
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b.
Has the NWTRPA helped you deal with these challenges? If so, how? If not, how could they have helped you?
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17)
What do you believe is important for having a successful Elders in Motion program?
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18)
How do you encourage elders to participate in Elders in Motion?
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19)
Do you feel that the program is respectful of your community’s cultural history and traditional activities? How?
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20)
What do you think is the best part of the program?
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21)
What part of the program do you think needs the most improvement?
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22)
What are some tips that you would offer other communities who are trying to start an Elders in Motion program?
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23)
How could the NWTRPA further support you and your community in running Elders in Motion?
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24)
What changes, if any, would you like to see in Elders in Motion?
Interview Guide – NWTRPA’s Elders in Motion
NWTRPA Staff
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1)
What is your position at the NWTRPA?
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2)
What is your role with Elders in Motion?
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3)
Do you think it is important for Elders to remain physically active? Why/why not?
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4)
Why do you think Elders in Motion is important?
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5)
What are the NWTRPA’s overall goals with Elders in Motion?
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6)
What support does the NWTRPA provide to the communities who run Elders in Motion?
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7)
How are people/communities selected to do the Elders in Motion training?
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8)
How are communities selected for funding?
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9)
Do you feel like the program is sustainable once a community member has received training? Why/why not?
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a.
How does the NWTRPA try to ensure that the program is sustainable?
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10)
What sort of evaluation is done on Elders in Motion?
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11)
How has the program been adapted for Northern communities?
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12)
Do you think that Elders in Motion is respectful of the culture and history of the different communities who have implemented the program? How?
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13)
What are some of the benefits that you see in communities with Elders in Motion?
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14)
What are some of the challenges that you see in communities that try to implement Elders in Motion?
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15)
What do you think are some of the factors that make Elders in Motion successful in different communities?
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16)
What are some of the challenges that the NWTRPA, as a whole, faces with Elders in Motion?
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17)
What successes have you had with Elders in Motion?
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18)
What do you think is the best part of the program?
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19)
What part of the program do you think needs the most improvement?
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20)
What changes, if any, would you like to see in Elders in Motion?
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Brooks-Cleator, L.A., Giles, A.R. Culturally Relevant Physical Activity through Elders in Motion: Physical Activity Programming for Older Aboriginal Adults in the Northwest Territories, Canada. J Cross Cult Gerontol 31, 449–470 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-016-9307-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-016-9307-z