Toni Letendre | University of Alberta (original) (raw)

Papers by Toni Letendre

Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport (SCAPPS refereed abstracts repository), 2013

Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between... more Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between Indigenous and Western cultures; however, little is known about young Indigenous women’s perceptions of their bodies in sport. Upon receiving IRB approval, this project began as a qualitative description and evolved into the co-creation of a story or narrative about a young Indigenous woman boxer. The current study is a narrative inquiry into co-creating a narrative and our process of responsiveness. Narratives involve the use of story to create meanings. Referencing the narrative analysis works of Smith and Sparkes (e.g., 2006; 2009a; 2009b) and Anishinaabeg story-telling methodologies (Doerfler, Sinclair, & Stark, 2013), our study purpose was to inquire into the process of co-creating a space for story-telling research and to inform sport body image research methodologies with Indigenous Peoples. Phase one involved approximately 12-hours of iterative discussions to co-create the story. Phase two involved approximately 9-hours of recorded and transcribed co-reflection and discussion about the development of the project and story. The following tensions emerged: (1) Feelings of responsibility, (2) Representation and relevance, (3) Dynamic collaboration, (4) Integrating diverse knowledges, and (5) Story-telling as a research medium. This inquiry identifies considerations for conducting research with Indigenous Peoples that accounts for Indigenous means of knowledge production and exchange. The findings also inform future approaches to sport body image research with Indigenous Peoples by articulating how creating a safe space for story-telling can produce mutually-relevant knowledge regarding the interrelatedness of race, culture, and sport body image.

Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport (SCAPPS refereed abstracts repository), 2013

Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between... more Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between Indigenous and Western cultures; however, little is known about young Indigenous women’s perceptions of their bodies in sport. Upon receiving IRB approval, this project began as a qualitative description and evolved into the co-creation of a story or narrative about a young Indigenous woman boxer. The current study is a narrative inquiry into co-creating a narrative and our process of responsiveness. Narratives involve the use of story to create meanings. Referencing the narrative analysis works of Smith and Sparkes (e.g., 2006; 2009a; 2009b) and Anishinaabeg story-telling methodologies (Doerfler, Sinclair, & Stark, 2013), our study purpose was to inquire into the process of co-creating a space for story-telling research and to inform sport body image research methodologies with Indigenous Peoples. Phase one involved approximately 12-hours of iterative discussions to co-create the story. Phase two involved approximately 9-hours of recorded and transcribed co-reflection and discussion about the development of the project and story. The following tensions emerged: (1) Feelings of responsibility, (2) Representation and relevance, (3) Dynamic collaboration, (4) Integrating diverse knowledges, and (5) Story-telling as a research medium. This inquiry identifies considerations for conducting research with Indigenous Peoples that accounts for Indigenous means of knowledge production and exchange. The findings also inform future approaches to sport body image research with Indigenous Peoples by articulating how creating a safe space for story-telling can produce mutually-relevant knowledge regarding the interrelatedness of race, culture, and sport body image.

Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, Apr 29, 2016

Abstract Positive body image was initially conceptualised as the absence of negative body image, ... more Abstract Positive body image was initially conceptualised as the absence of negative body image, but it is now considered a unique and multifaceted construct. Within this new and flourishing body of literature, researchers have focused on various facets of positive body image including body pride. Body pride has been identified as a construct that may be instrumental to health and it is necessary to deepen understandings of this construct among culturally diverse populations. The purpose of this research was to explore the body pride experiences of young Aboriginal men and women. Using a community-based participatory research approach, eight young men and women that self-identify as Aboriginal (ages 20–25 years) shared their experiences of body pride through one-on-one interviews and photographs. A qualitative content analysis highlighted five themes representing body pride: (1) ‘your mind, your spirit, your body’, (2) ‘it’s a practice’, (3) ‘learned from my culture’, (4) ‘getting caught up in this western world’, and (5) ‘powerful’. This research makes a significant contribution to the body image literature in that it provides in-depth insight into the overlooked experiences of Aboriginal peoples and highlights culturally specific opportunities that may foster experiences of body pride.

Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, Apr 29, 2016

Abstract Positive body image was initially conceptualised as the absence of negative body image, ... more Abstract Positive body image was initially conceptualised as the absence of negative body image, but it is now considered a unique and multifaceted construct. Within this new and flourishing body of literature, researchers have focused on various facets of positive body image including body pride. Body pride has been identified as a construct that may be instrumental to health and it is necessary to deepen understandings of this construct among culturally diverse populations. The purpose of this research was to explore the body pride experiences of young Aboriginal men and women. Using a community-based participatory research approach, eight young men and women that self-identify as Aboriginal (ages 20–25 years) shared their experiences of body pride through one-on-one interviews and photographs. A qualitative content analysis highlighted five themes representing body pride: (1) ‘your mind, your spirit, your body’, (2) ‘it’s a practice’, (3) ‘learned from my culture’, (4) ‘getting caught up in this western world’, and (5) ‘powerful’. This research makes a significant contribution to the body image literature in that it provides in-depth insight into the overlooked experiences of Aboriginal peoples and highlights culturally specific opportunities that may foster experiences of body pride.

Body image research with Indigenous women typically focuses on the concept of health and their un... more Body image research with Indigenous women typically focuses on the concept of health and their understandings of health. However, it is necessary to acknowledge how Indigenous women's body image has been shaped through heteropatriarchy and settler colonialism. The purpose of this autoethnography was to understand Indigenous women's body image. This study has been guided through an Indigenous perspective that draws from my own Indigenous background as a Nakota and the theoretical framework of Indigenous feminism(s). The guiding research question was 'how can we create a safe space for Indigenous women to seek empowerment and find opportunity to share their own body image narratives of heteropatriarchal colonial and sexual violence?' Typically, in our society when individuals speak up about the violence they experience, they are victim-blamed and shunned. When Indigenous women experience colonial or sexual violence (e.g. missing and murdered Indigenous women), they are silenced. I used epiphanies to capture these experiences and to challenge the conceptualization of Indigenous bodies within the biomedical and mainstream media discourse. I drew from remembered moments that have significantly impacted my body image experiences. I created a three-part collection of poetry and prose to capture my thoughts, feelings, and emotions from racism, sexism, and discrimination growing up in Edmonton, Alberta. By conducting an autoethnography, the project was framed within a cultural landscape that acknowledges the history, the stories, and experiences dealing with settler colonialism and heteropatriarchy that also satisfied my ethics in Indigenous research.

Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport, 2015

The purpose of this qualitative description was to explore how Aboriginal youth in an urban cente... more The purpose of this qualitative description was to explore how Aboriginal youth in an urban center experience body pride. Body pride may be a predictor of health for Aboriginal youth and has been described as being connected to culture. Eight participants (four men, four women) that self-identified as Aboriginal and were between the ages of 20-25 years, participated in one-on-one interviews to describe their meanings and experiences of body pride. A qualitative content analysis highlighted five themes representing body pride: (a) the body as a changing "vessel," (b) body pride as a practice, (c) traditional activities that foster body pride, (d) challenging westernized body stereotypes and the marginalization of native peoples, and (e) body pride and male views of masculinity. This research contributes to the literature by highlighting Aboriginal youth's meanings of body pride and describing how to foster body pride while affirming Aboriginal cultures and identities. Acknowledgments: The project described in this paper was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC, grant number 430-2012-0239) of Canada and a Research Award by the Office of the Vice President (Research) Special Fund, University of Alberta. The authors would like to thank the participants who shared their knowledge and contributed their time and effort to this project.

Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport, 2015

The purpose of this qualitative description was to explore how Aboriginal youth in an urban cente... more The purpose of this qualitative description was to explore how Aboriginal youth in an urban center experience body pride. Body pride may be a predictor of health for Aboriginal youth and has been described as being connected to culture. Eight participants (four men, four women) that self-identified as Aboriginal and were between the ages of 20-25 years, participated in one-on-one interviews to describe their meanings and experiences of body pride. A qualitative content analysis highlighted five themes representing body pride: (a) the body as a changing "vessel," (b) body pride as a practice, (c) traditional activities that foster body pride, (d) challenging westernized body stereotypes and the marginalization of native peoples, and (e) body pride and male views of masculinity. This research contributes to the literature by highlighting Aboriginal youth's meanings of body pride and describing how to foster body pride while affirming Aboriginal cultures and identities. A...

Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between... more Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between Indigenous and Western cultures; however, little is known about young Indigenous women’s perceptions of their bodies in sport. Upon receiving IRB approval, this project began as a qualitative description and evolved into the co-creation of a story or narrative about a young Indigenous woman boxer. The current study is a narrative inquiry into co-creating a narrative and our process of responsiveness. Narratives involve the use of story to create meanings. Referencing the narrative analysis works of Smith and Sparkes (e.g., 2006; 2009a; 2009b) and Anishinaabeg story-telling methodologies (Doerfler, Sinclair, & Stark, 2013), our study purpose was to inquire into the process of co-creating a space for story-telling research and to inform sport body image research methodologies with Indigenous Peoples. Phase one involved approximately 12-hours of iterative discussions to co-create the story...

Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 2016

Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport (SCAPPS refereed abstracts repository), 2013

Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between... more Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between Indigenous and Western cultures; however, little is known about young Indigenous women’s perceptions of their bodies in sport. Upon receiving IRB approval, this project began as a qualitative description and evolved into the co-creation of a story or narrative about a young Indigenous woman boxer. The current study is a narrative inquiry into co-creating a narrative and our process of responsiveness. Narratives involve the use of story to create meanings. Referencing the narrative analysis works of Smith and Sparkes (e.g., 2006; 2009a; 2009b) and Anishinaabeg story-telling methodologies (Doerfler, Sinclair, & Stark, 2013), our study purpose was to inquire into the process of co-creating a space for story-telling research and to inform sport body image research methodologies with Indigenous Peoples. Phase one involved approximately 12-hours of iterative discussions to co-create the story. Phase two involved approximately 9-hours of recorded and transcribed co-reflection and discussion about the development of the project and story. The following tensions emerged: (1) Feelings of responsibility, (2) Representation and relevance, (3) Dynamic collaboration, (4) Integrating diverse knowledges, and (5) Story-telling as a research medium. This inquiry identifies considerations for conducting research with Indigenous Peoples that accounts for Indigenous means of knowledge production and exchange. The findings also inform future approaches to sport body image research with Indigenous Peoples by articulating how creating a safe space for story-telling can produce mutually-relevant knowledge regarding the interrelatedness of race, culture, and sport body image.

Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport (SCAPPS refereed abstracts repository), 2013

Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between... more Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between Indigenous and Western cultures; however, little is known about young Indigenous women’s perceptions of their bodies in sport. Upon receiving IRB approval, this project began as a qualitative description and evolved into the co-creation of a story or narrative about a young Indigenous woman boxer. The current study is a narrative inquiry into co-creating a narrative and our process of responsiveness. Narratives involve the use of story to create meanings. Referencing the narrative analysis works of Smith and Sparkes (e.g., 2006; 2009a; 2009b) and Anishinaabeg story-telling methodologies (Doerfler, Sinclair, & Stark, 2013), our study purpose was to inquire into the process of co-creating a space for story-telling research and to inform sport body image research methodologies with Indigenous Peoples. Phase one involved approximately 12-hours of iterative discussions to co-create the story. Phase two involved approximately 9-hours of recorded and transcribed co-reflection and discussion about the development of the project and story. The following tensions emerged: (1) Feelings of responsibility, (2) Representation and relevance, (3) Dynamic collaboration, (4) Integrating diverse knowledges, and (5) Story-telling as a research medium. This inquiry identifies considerations for conducting research with Indigenous Peoples that accounts for Indigenous means of knowledge production and exchange. The findings also inform future approaches to sport body image research with Indigenous Peoples by articulating how creating a safe space for story-telling can produce mutually-relevant knowledge regarding the interrelatedness of race, culture, and sport body image.

Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, Apr 29, 2016

Abstract Positive body image was initially conceptualised as the absence of negative body image, ... more Abstract Positive body image was initially conceptualised as the absence of negative body image, but it is now considered a unique and multifaceted construct. Within this new and flourishing body of literature, researchers have focused on various facets of positive body image including body pride. Body pride has been identified as a construct that may be instrumental to health and it is necessary to deepen understandings of this construct among culturally diverse populations. The purpose of this research was to explore the body pride experiences of young Aboriginal men and women. Using a community-based participatory research approach, eight young men and women that self-identify as Aboriginal (ages 20–25 years) shared their experiences of body pride through one-on-one interviews and photographs. A qualitative content analysis highlighted five themes representing body pride: (1) ‘your mind, your spirit, your body’, (2) ‘it’s a practice’, (3) ‘learned from my culture’, (4) ‘getting caught up in this western world’, and (5) ‘powerful’. This research makes a significant contribution to the body image literature in that it provides in-depth insight into the overlooked experiences of Aboriginal peoples and highlights culturally specific opportunities that may foster experiences of body pride.

Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, Apr 29, 2016

Abstract Positive body image was initially conceptualised as the absence of negative body image, ... more Abstract Positive body image was initially conceptualised as the absence of negative body image, but it is now considered a unique and multifaceted construct. Within this new and flourishing body of literature, researchers have focused on various facets of positive body image including body pride. Body pride has been identified as a construct that may be instrumental to health and it is necessary to deepen understandings of this construct among culturally diverse populations. The purpose of this research was to explore the body pride experiences of young Aboriginal men and women. Using a community-based participatory research approach, eight young men and women that self-identify as Aboriginal (ages 20–25 years) shared their experiences of body pride through one-on-one interviews and photographs. A qualitative content analysis highlighted five themes representing body pride: (1) ‘your mind, your spirit, your body’, (2) ‘it’s a practice’, (3) ‘learned from my culture’, (4) ‘getting caught up in this western world’, and (5) ‘powerful’. This research makes a significant contribution to the body image literature in that it provides in-depth insight into the overlooked experiences of Aboriginal peoples and highlights culturally specific opportunities that may foster experiences of body pride.

Body image research with Indigenous women typically focuses on the concept of health and their un... more Body image research with Indigenous women typically focuses on the concept of health and their understandings of health. However, it is necessary to acknowledge how Indigenous women's body image has been shaped through heteropatriarchy and settler colonialism. The purpose of this autoethnography was to understand Indigenous women's body image. This study has been guided through an Indigenous perspective that draws from my own Indigenous background as a Nakota and the theoretical framework of Indigenous feminism(s). The guiding research question was 'how can we create a safe space for Indigenous women to seek empowerment and find opportunity to share their own body image narratives of heteropatriarchal colonial and sexual violence?' Typically, in our society when individuals speak up about the violence they experience, they are victim-blamed and shunned. When Indigenous women experience colonial or sexual violence (e.g. missing and murdered Indigenous women), they are silenced. I used epiphanies to capture these experiences and to challenge the conceptualization of Indigenous bodies within the biomedical and mainstream media discourse. I drew from remembered moments that have significantly impacted my body image experiences. I created a three-part collection of poetry and prose to capture my thoughts, feelings, and emotions from racism, sexism, and discrimination growing up in Edmonton, Alberta. By conducting an autoethnography, the project was framed within a cultural landscape that acknowledges the history, the stories, and experiences dealing with settler colonialism and heteropatriarchy that also satisfied my ethics in Indigenous research.

Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport, 2015

The purpose of this qualitative description was to explore how Aboriginal youth in an urban cente... more The purpose of this qualitative description was to explore how Aboriginal youth in an urban center experience body pride. Body pride may be a predictor of health for Aboriginal youth and has been described as being connected to culture. Eight participants (four men, four women) that self-identified as Aboriginal and were between the ages of 20-25 years, participated in one-on-one interviews to describe their meanings and experiences of body pride. A qualitative content analysis highlighted five themes representing body pride: (a) the body as a changing "vessel," (b) body pride as a practice, (c) traditional activities that foster body pride, (d) challenging westernized body stereotypes and the marginalization of native peoples, and (e) body pride and male views of masculinity. This research contributes to the literature by highlighting Aboriginal youth's meanings of body pride and describing how to foster body pride while affirming Aboriginal cultures and identities. Acknowledgments: The project described in this paper was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC, grant number 430-2012-0239) of Canada and a Research Award by the Office of the Vice President (Research) Special Fund, University of Alberta. The authors would like to thank the participants who shared their knowledge and contributed their time and effort to this project.

Journal of Exercise, Movement, and Sport, 2015

The purpose of this qualitative description was to explore how Aboriginal youth in an urban cente... more The purpose of this qualitative description was to explore how Aboriginal youth in an urban center experience body pride. Body pride may be a predictor of health for Aboriginal youth and has been described as being connected to culture. Eight participants (four men, four women) that self-identified as Aboriginal and were between the ages of 20-25 years, participated in one-on-one interviews to describe their meanings and experiences of body pride. A qualitative content analysis highlighted five themes representing body pride: (a) the body as a changing "vessel," (b) body pride as a practice, (c) traditional activities that foster body pride, (d) challenging westernized body stereotypes and the marginalization of native peoples, and (e) body pride and male views of masculinity. This research contributes to the literature by highlighting Aboriginal youth's meanings of body pride and describing how to foster body pride while affirming Aboriginal cultures and identities. A...

Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between... more Indigenous women have a complex relationship to body image due to conflicting body ideals between Indigenous and Western cultures; however, little is known about young Indigenous women’s perceptions of their bodies in sport. Upon receiving IRB approval, this project began as a qualitative description and evolved into the co-creation of a story or narrative about a young Indigenous woman boxer. The current study is a narrative inquiry into co-creating a narrative and our process of responsiveness. Narratives involve the use of story to create meanings. Referencing the narrative analysis works of Smith and Sparkes (e.g., 2006; 2009a; 2009b) and Anishinaabeg story-telling methodologies (Doerfler, Sinclair, & Stark, 2013), our study purpose was to inquire into the process of co-creating a space for story-telling research and to inform sport body image research methodologies with Indigenous Peoples. Phase one involved approximately 12-hours of iterative discussions to co-create the story...

Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 2016