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Physical Health
For Alaska Native Elders, aging well includes: staying connected to culture, subsisting through hunting or berry picking, sharing knowledge with younger people, and supporting the community.
Key ideas from Elders
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Being physically active is important for aging well. So they keep doing things, moving, and contributing. They found ways to stay involved even with physical changes happening. Programs or policies supporting aging well need to include cultural values and the lived experiences of Elders, rather than relying solely on standard Western ideas. For Alaska Native Elders, being active is linked to more than health—it is linked to culture, community, identity, and purpose. Recognizing and supporting their roles (not just physical limitations) can improve services for Elders in rural, remote areas.
Staying Busy
The Elders said doing things like walking, being outdoors, or subsistence tasks helped keep them strong. While some went to exercise at the gym (when there was one)—they included traditional activities like hunting, fishing, gathering berries.​​
Teaching
Being an Elder means participating in and teaching subsistence activities. Even if an Elder can’t do heavy work anymore, they still want to go out, help, supervise, and pass on skills. Teaching younger people the ways of their culture (how to fish, how to gather) is an important part of feeling like an elder and aging well.
Adaptation
Being active, regardless of age, helps resist stereotypes about aging. Many Elders said they didn’t want to be seen as just weak or “past it” because of their age. So they kept doing things, kept moving, kept contributing. They found ways to stay involved even when their strength or health changed—modifying activities rather than stopping.​
Supporting Elders in Staying Physically Active
The study shows that programs or policies on aging and physical activity should incorporate Elders' cultural values and real lives—especially in Indigenous communities—rather than relying solely on standard Western ideas. For Alaska Native Elders, being active is linked to more than health—it is linked to culture, community, identity, and purpose. Recognizing and supporting their roles (not just physical limitations) helps plan services for Elders in rural and remote areas.​
Brooks-Cleator, L. A., & Lewis, J. P. (2020). Alaska Native Elders’ perspectives on physical activity and successful aging. Canadian Journal on Aging/La Revue Canadienne Du Vieillissement, 39(2), 294-304.