Wholistic Approaches to Co-Create Culturally Relevant Exercise Programs

Background: When working with Indigenous communities to co-create exercise programs, knowledge translation activities are culturally relevant when the work is relational, grounded in genuine collaboration, and honours Indigenous ways of teaching and learning. Knowledge translation can be culturally unsafe if it is uninformed of the historical and systemic harms of colonization. This can often shift the work to focus on addressing deficits and gaps rather than how to work with the community in a relational way. Culturally relevant knowledge translation work allows for collective understanding which ensures relevance. Purpose: This narrative review was conducted to explore culturally relevant exercise programs designed to improve the wholistic health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities. Methods: Using relational approaches under Indigenous advisement, we conducted a literature review and applied a Two-Eyed Seeing lens to analyze thematically culturally relevant knowledge translation methods used in physical activity research with Indigenous communities. Results: From the nine research studies that were selected, we identified four key themes that aligned with our growing understanding of culturally relevant knowledge translation: Co-creation activities, knowledge Sharing Circles, strengths-based education practices, and culturally safe applications. Examples of these knowledge translation activities are seen to be interwoven into the design of community-based and Indigenous-led exercise programs, which are deeply rooted in the process of relationship-building. Conclusion: There is a fluid connection between culturally relevant exercise programs and knowledge sharing methods that are grounded in the Indigenous ways of teaching and learning, highlighting the importance of honouring the community’s aspirations, wisdoms, values, and gifts during program co-creation design.