Implementing biomechanical analyses for indigenous athlete development: Lessons from applying the Knowledge-to-Action framework with a remote First Nation hockey team

Biomechanical analyses can greatly enhance athlete development by enabling coaches to create tailored training programs for individual athletes and teams. Knowledge Translation (KT)—the process of developing and implementing research—facilitates the integration of these programs through community partnerships. This paper explores how KT of emerging sports science technologies can support Indigenous athletes and shares lessons from applying the Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) framework with coaches from a remote First Nation hockey team in northern Québec, Canada. Involving ten U18 male athletes and four coaches, the KTA process assisted in creating an athlete testing program that included analyses of skating and shooting techniques. While effective, the KTA process highlighted the need for additional tools to navigate complex dynamics in Indigenous research translation contexts. We recommend that researchers consider frameworks like Indigenous Science, Technology, and Society (Indigenous STS), which prioritize Indigenous expertise and governance in research collaborations, ensuring that Indigenous peoples can develop and use sciences and technologies on their own terms.