Anishinaabekweg Dibaajimowinan (Stories) of Decolonization Through Running

in Sociology of Sport Journal

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Tricia D. McGuire-AdamsUniversity of Alberta

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Audrey R. GilesUniversity of Ottawa

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2017-0052
In Print:
Volume 35: Issue 3
Page Range:
207–215
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Indigenous women’s perspectives on physical activity and the ways in which it fosters decolonization have yet to be considered from an Indigenous feminist perspective. Therefore, in this paper, we present four Anishinaabekweg (that is, Anishinaabeg women’s) dibaajimowinan (personal stories) of physical activity, specifically running, and their views on its contribution to decolonization. This study used an Anishinaabeg research paradigm, storytelling, and Anishinaabeg informed thematic analysis. Findings from the dibaajimowinan revealed three themes: running as ceremony and healing; the significance of running as a group; and running for health and personal goals. The dibaajimowinan from the Anishinaabekweg runners show how decolonization through physical activity can occur, which is an important addition to the field of sociology of sport.

McGuire-Adams is with the Faculties of Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation and Native Studies, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta. Giles is with the School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Address author correspondence to Tricia D. McGuire-Adams at tricia.mcguire-adams@ualberta.ca.
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