Understanding Wholistic Health in First Nations Youth in the Context of Sport and Physical Activity

Sport and physical activity have been mobilized as a vehicle for positive developmental outcomes of Indigenous youth . These experiences offer Indigenous youth the capacity to attain their full potential, accrue wholistic health benefits, and live in balance. Despite this knowledge, there is still limited research to understand Indigenous perspectives in extant literature. The purpose of this research was to explore and better understand how the wholistic health of First Nations youth is impacted through participation in sport and physical activity. Using purposeful sampling, eight First Nations youth (5 males, 3 females) between the age of 14 and 18 years (Mage = 16.75 years) were recruited to participate in one of two virtual sharing circles. Results highlighted that sport and physical activity are associated with positive outcomes related to physical adaptations, mental health, mental skills, and interconnectedness for First Nations youth. However, to balance findings, this research also demonstrates room for growth in sport and physical activity participation (e.g., racism). Findings from this research add important context and nuance to the overarching belief that sport and physical activity participation is beneficial to the wholistic health of Indigenous youth.