Gidgup Margaret J R, Kickett Marion, Hill Keith D, Francis-Coad Jacqueline, Weselman Tammy, Coombes Julieann, Ivers Rebecca, Bowser Nicole, Palacios Vilma, Hill Anne-Marie
School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Science, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Health Promot J Austr. 2022 Oct;33 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):138-149. doi: 10.1002/hpja.582. Epub 2022 Mar 23.
Culturally appropriate physical activity (PA) programs have values and principles that respect local community culture and knowledge. However, in Western Australia (WA) there were no opportunities for older Aboriginal peoples to engage in a culturally appropriate PA program. The study objective was to explore how engaging in a culturally appropriate PA program impacted on the lived experiences of Aboriginal Elders.
A qualitative exploratory study was conducted using an Indigenous methodology. Participants were Aboriginal Elders in Noongar Country in WA . Two groups, engaged in the Ironbark program, which consisted of weekly exercise and a yarning circle. The program was developed in NSW specifically for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples and adapted for use in WA. Semi-structured interviews utilising a yarning approach were facilitated by a Noongar Wadjuk researcher. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken.
Nineteen Elders were interviewed. The overarching theme was that participation led to connecting and reconnecting to community with a sense of belonging. Elders affirmed the program as being appropriate and comfortable. They described experiences that were grouped into three main themes of Positive mental and emotional changes, Physical improvements and Social benefits.
Aboriginal Elders valued the opportunity to engage in a culturally appropriate PA program. Benefits were appreciated as holistic in nature, with Elders seeing improvements in their mental, physical and emotional health. SO WHAT?: Increasing access to culturally appropriate, decolonised PA programs is a fundamental health promotion approach for working with older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
具有文化适宜性的体育活动（PA）项目具有尊重当地社区文化和知识的价值观及原则。然而，在西澳大利亚州（WA），年长的原住民没有机会参与具有文化适宜性的体育活动项目。本研究的目的是探讨参与具有文化适宜性的体育活动项目如何影响原住民长者的生活体验。
采用本土方法进行了一项定性探索性研究。研究对象是西澳大利亚州努恩加尔地区的原住民长者。两组人员参与了铁木树皮项目，该项目包括每周的锻炼和交流圈活动。该项目是在新南威尔士州专门为年长的原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民开发的，并经过调整后在西澳大利亚州使用。由一名努恩加尔瓦朱克族研究人员主持，采用交流方式进行半结构化访谈。进行了归纳主题分析。
对19位长者进行了访谈。总体主题是，参与该项目能让人产生归属感，从而与社区建立联系并重新建立联系。长者们肯定该项目既合适又让人感到舒适。他们描述的体验分为三个主要主题：积极的心理和情绪变化、身体改善以及社会效益。
原住民长者重视参与具有文化适宜性的体育活动项目的机会。他们认识到这些益处具有整体性，自己的心理、身体和情绪健康都得到了改善。那么该怎么做呢？：增加参与具有文化适宜性、去殖民化的体育活动项目的机会，是与年长的原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民合作的一项基本健康促进方法。
