Concussion knowledge, awareness, and experiences of indigenous youth ice hockey players: A call for culturally grounded concussion education and recovery.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the knowledge, awareness, and lived experiences of Indigenous youth ice hockey players across Canada with respect to concussion. Using a community-engaged approach grounded in Two-Eyed Seeing, we examined how intersections of culture, sport, and healthcare shape concussion education, disclosure, and recovery. Sport-related concussions (SRCs) are a significant health concern in Canada, with Indigenous youth disproportionately affected by injuries due to systemic inequities in healthcare access, culturally relevant education, and historical mistrust of medical institutions. Despite the high prevalence of concussions in ice hockey, limited research has examined Indigenous athletes' perspectives on concussion knowledge, reporting, and recovery.

METHODS

We explored these issues among 48 Indigenous hockey players aged 15-24 from across Canada. Participants completed an online questionnaire that included both open-ended and closed-ended items, addressing concussion awareness, education, and recovery experiences.

RESULTS

Thematic analysis revealed that while athletes generally recognized concussion symptoms, many delayed or avoided reporting injuries due to stigma and fear of being sidelined. Access to concussion education varied, with urban athletes more likely to have encountered formal resources, such as the Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT), while others relied on informal knowledge from peers, coaches, or family. Recovery experiences for many participants highlighted the importance of traditional healing methods, including smudging, sweat lodges, and Elder guidance, which were valued, but often absent in formal care pathways.

CONCLUSION

In centring Indigenous voices, this work contributes to growing efforts to support Indigenous self-determination in concussion recovery through holistic and community-based approaches within sport and healthcare systems.