Indigenous peoples can meet physical activity recommendations by engaging in the cultural practice of hunting

Take home message

• Land-based hunting induces cardiovascular benefits by increasing heart rate levels throughout the day.
• Hunting reestablishes the connection between Indigenous peoples and their land while providing health and wellness benefits such as improving overall happiness and food security.
• Hunting should be included in the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines (CPAG) for Indigenous peoples living on reserves as many experience infrastructure and transportation barriers that prevent participation in the colonial forms of organized and indoor sport and exercise.

Background

• Many Indigenous peoples do not achieve the recommendation of 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity identified in the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.
• Indigenous peoples have an increased risk of diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, and obesity and their general health is lower compared to other cultural groups in Canada.
• The potential of land-based activities such as hunting, to increase physical activity for the purpose of increasing health of Indigenous peoples of Canada has not been systematically explored.

How the study was done

• Data collection occurred on the ancestral and unceded territorial lands of the Esk’etemc First Nation after receiving permission from the Chief and hunters of the land.
• Six middle-aged (36 ± 11 years) and experienced (>13 years) male hunters of the Esk’etemc Indian Band volunteered. All participants self-reported no comprising health conditions to physical activity and were living independently.
• Heart rate (HR) monitors and accelerometers were programmed to start recording before the participants’ intended wake-up time and manually stopped by the participant at the end of the day. Participants also recorded their physical activity in a logbook which was used as a cross-reference.
• Percentage of HR reserve (HR max [220-age] – HR rest) was used to determine physical activity intensity: very light <20%, light 20%-40%, moderate 40%-60%, and vigorous >60%.
• HR and step count were measured on two days of hunting and two days of living on-reserve while engaging in their typical routine (i.e. going to work and activities of daily living).
• HR, step count, and physical activity levels were compared between hunting and on-reserve days.

What the researchers found

• Mean HR and average step count were not significantly different between hunting and on-reserve days.
• Time spent doing light, moderate, and vigorous activities was two times greater on hunting days compared with on-reserve days.
• Physical activity on on-reserve days varied between participants depending on their job nature (e.g. labour job) and transportation method to and from work.
• Physical activity logbooks showed long bouts of sedentary behaviour on hunting days due to travelling in a vehicle from the reserve to traditional hunting sites.
• A successful hunt has the greatest health and fitness benefits because the intensity of physical activity is higher as the hunter must perform additional physically demanding tasks involving the animal.

Conclusion

• Indigenous peoples can meet the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines by using traditional hunting methods, and a successful hunt increases the intensity of physical activity.
• The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines should include forms of physical activity specific to different cultures to increase participation and improve the health and well-being of the diverse cultural groups living in Canada.