Moms, Kokums & Aunties on the Move - Edmonton Aboriginal Seniors Centre

The Edmonton Aboriginal Seniors Centre (EASC) enhances the well-being of Edmonton Aboriginal seniors through culturally-guided and accessible services and supports. The EASC has experience in providing a variety of programs for their participants, including access physical activity and recreational opportunities. Moms, Aunties, and Kokums on the Move was a community-based physical activity program that provided a safe, supervised, and culturally welcoming environment for Indigenous women and girls of all ages. The program encouraged participants to become more active, improve their physical and mental well-being, and build meaningful social connections. Some of the key aspects of the program include:

• To reduce barriers to participation, the program was offered at no cost and included equipment, healthy snacks, and transportation assistance when needed. Activities were adapted for all fitness levels and abilities, with chair-based and low-impact options that enabled women living with arthritis, chronic pain, or mobility challenges to participate comfortably.
• Cultural safety was at the heart of the program. Indigenous-led activities, traditional teachings, and guidance from Elders and Knowledge Keepers created a respectful, supportive environment where participants felt connected to their culture, community, and one another. The intergenerational approach brought together girls, moms, aunties, Kokums, and older women, fostering friendships, strengthening community connections, reducing social isolation, and encouraging peer support.
• The program also addressed social and emotional barriers, including isolation, caregiving responsibilities, and low self-confidence, by providing a trauma-informed, body-positive space where every participant felt welcomed, valued, and encouraged.
• By combining accessible physical activity with Indigenous culture, community, and wellness education, the program empowered participants to build confidence, establish healthy habits, and continue leading active, healthy lifestyles beyond the program.

The program was offered as 2 consecutive 8 week sessions from January - May 2026 with one session per week. A variety of activities were offered including mini golf, snowshoeing, yoga and wellness classes, bowling, aquafit, jigging and walking club.  Alongside physical activities, EASC supported healthy living through nutrition education, healthy snacks and meals, journaling, and stress management strategies.

Sharing learnings from this project:

• One of the main challenges experienced during the project was unpredictable weather, which occasionally affected plans for outdoor activities. Many participants expressed a strong interest in spending time outdoors, so changing weather conditions required the program team to be flexible and adapt schedules at short notice. Having suitable indoor space available allowed activities to continue without interruption, ensuring participants remained engaged and safe. This experience reinforced the importance of contingency planning and maintaining flexible program schedules. In the future, we would build in additional weather backup plans, identify alternative indoor and outdoor locations in advance, and communicate potential schedule changes more proactively with participants. Overall, these learnings strengthened our ability to deliver a responsive program while continuing to meet participants' interests and needs.