SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½

Skip to content

Movement isn't just about health, it's about culture

Movement is not just about health or sport, it is part of who we are. It is shaped by our collective cultures.

Movement is not just about health or sport, it is part of who we are. It is shaped by our collective cultures. From paddling across lakes to setting up tents in the woods, from dancing at community feasts to snowshoeing through silence, the ways we move are deeply tied to history, identity, and relationships with people and with the land.

As we enter Indigenous History Month, we want to acknowledge and honour the deep-rooted movement traditions of Indigenous peoples across the North. I am not an expert in these teachings, but I am committed to listening, learning, and creating space for Indigenous voices to lead.

Physical literacy is about more than sport, it is about moving well and with purpose, with confidence and connection. It includes fundamental movement skills like walking, running, jumping, balancing, and throwing. But these are not just technical skills. They are part of daily life. In Northern communities, they often show up in ways that reflect the land, the seasons, and local ways of life.

A child skipping a rock, balancing on a log, or leaping across a frozen puddle is not just moving, they are building confidence, learning from the land, and growing through play. These everyday moments hold meaning. They are how movement becomes memory, how capacity becomes confidence.

We have heard time and again from Elders, educators, and families that movement in Indigenous communities is more than activity.  It is teaching, storytelling, responsibility, connection, and pride. We are grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside these communities and support movement spaces that reflect that richness.

Because physical literacy is not just about how we move.SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½¨ It is about why we move, where we move, and who we become through that movement. So this month, and every month, we hold space for this truth:SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½¨

Movement is culture.

Movement is reclamation.

Movement is community.

LetSA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½™s keep moving forward. Together, and with respect.