Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Environmental factors like land-use mix impact physical activity (PA) opportunities available to youth. While the PA-environment link in urban areas is well understood, there has never been an exploration of the unique relationship First Nations youth have with their environment and how it influences PA. The purpose of this study was to explore the PA-environment relationship with First Nations youth to develop a PA environment assessment tool. Guided by Two-Eyed Seeing, First Nations youth (n=14) were trained in the art of Photovoice to capture how their community environment influences PA. In Photovoice, youth capture their experiences with photos. Next, youth co-researchers completed the USA-validated Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA), which assesses the rural PA environment. Youth then took part in talking circles where they discussed the RALA and shared their photos. Youth indicated that their PA is influenced by: 1) Policy, 2) Community/Cultural Events, 3) Infrastructure, 4) Natural Environment, 5) Social Environment, 6) Transportation, 7) PA Programs, and 8) Relations. A separate theme, 9) Personal Attributes, reflects individual characteristics viewed as important moderators of the PA-environment relationship. A conceptual model illustrating how youth PA is influenced by the environment was created and combined with RALA tool commentary to develop a PA environment assessment tool for First Nations communities. Informed by both Indigenous and Western knowledge, this study is the first to explore the PA environment from a First Nations youth perspective. Findings will provide the basis for the development of a PA environment assessment tool, which is currently being finalized. This tool will be used to strengthen current PA promotion efforts in rural/on-reserve First Nations communities by identifying opportunities for culturally-relevant PA programming and PA-related environmental enhancements that can positively impact the health of First Nations youth