Traditional Aboriginal lifestyles were action oriented and while some are still holding on to these traditional aspects that can actually assist the culture in achieving success, others have dismissed the importance of the Indigenous athlete and their potential in assisting with this change. The benefits for society at this point are reliant on the emergence of Indigenous leaders who instill these values into the community. What can be achieved through the search for these leaders is that a traditional connection reveals the ideal place to search for the very same people who were the leaders of our Indigenous past; the Indigenous athlete creating the leader within through the pursuit of sport.

For an Indigenous culture that is only one ingredient in a societal soup, it becomes a challenge to emerge victorious in a traditional sense. The essence of victory that is refered to here is one that is tied into the everlasting traditional Indigenous values and ideals that have been known to transcend time because while they were important in the past, their real importance is one that society is now shouting for. Many examples exist along these lines with some strong undercurrents of binding directions. Environmental appreciation, protection and respect, along with a universal spirtual need to connect our lives to all other living things are just starting points that the Indigenous culture are able to contribute while in this universal societal soup. In an act of comprehension, it is said that possibility exists at a spot between our confusion and clarity. It  occurs at the moment of situational analysis while one is taking in the whole context of what is happening and weighing the alternatives for action. At this point of uncertainty is a very fine line of possibility that is actually a connection which is larger than we can ever begin to comprehend. It is also at this point that the giving way to the energies of life are revealed through an elite Indigenous athlete who is deeply connected to their activity. By continually connecting to this larger source of understanding and deep routed humility, the athlete begins a leadership journey that is just as important as any formal education of leadership in a contemporary sense. This is why our Elders who became the chiefs and leaders of our people and communities, were athletes who committed much of their development towards this athletic pursuit. Understanding of this connection reveals that active living and sport were important traditional values ingrained in the quest for leadership, and that this importance is now something that can be re-embraced back into the Indigenous and societal quest for the leadership that seeks to align the direction toward those Indigenous values that are being shouted for.

The Indigenous culture’s leadership potential has been confronted over the last century by the healing process that has become a method towards dealing with Indigenous suppression and the inappropriatley choosen methods for dealing with such stress. The potential of an Indigenous athlete has always been known to exist. Examples of such athletic prowess was displayed through turn of the century athletes such as Tom Longboat and through our Indigenous war heros such as Tommy Prince. These individuals have flowed through society as outcasts after their particular use because of an inability for those to see the healing connection that wasn’t being dealt with. These athlete’s were tied back into their traditonal activity but were then forced to live other ways because of the change in the Indigenouis society. It is a very good thing that the Indigenous cultures have been able to turn adversity into strength and challenge into success, because we were given the exact tools to emerge victorius because of the strife and oppression we have faced. These heros achieved results beyond what was thought to be possible because of the traditional groundings found through their activity and their lives after such achievement reflects the importance of incorporating an Indigenous model for Sport Psychology.

Today is a day filled with the native culture being admired by the entire world for a knowledge that transcends the same forces that the world finds ripping apart values of peace, tranquility, respect, and courage. Connection to nature and the environment, reveals itself as an immersed traditional component in Aboriginal culture because the people immerse themselves in their tasks wholeheartedly and in such a fashion as to blend with nature like masters cherishing their art form. From teachings told by elders at traditional gatherings, to international demand for art work and cultural experiences; many examples of a people putting the art into their daily life are evident. Beyond this is the actual traditional examples that form the grounds for realizations of these ways of life being a dedicated way to live life right. Succoming to pressure, this same dedication can also be seen to trancend into economic and political areas of Aboriginal history and its curent state. Success has its rewards and it also has to be achieved by walking a fine ledge with balance and an aim. The holding of an sacred value in the traditions of culture for native people helps to sustain this culture in such a state of balance. Tradition, itself, continues to balance the forces of destruction that come along with the increasing successes found, achieved and sacrificed for. In looking at contemporary living art forms for the Aboriginal culture, we can plainly see the impact that traditions and challenges have had and continue to have on the people of the land.  Associated with the simple ways of life, the way of living moves toward the moment being defined extensively by the moment. Reflexive, not responsive sponteneity is cultivated and worked toward. Meditation becomes an aspect within the athletic endevour, step, jump , swim, music, carving, brush stroke, within the word, and within the air breathed by the Aboriginal athletic artist who is at one with the force that does not create, nor destroy the work of art that just came to being.