Marcus Concho

Physical Fitness and Health of Native Americans:

Recognizing Athletes in Tribal Communities

By Marcus Concho

Acoma Pueblo

Marcus Concho- Final Presentation.webm

Research

Measuring historical trauma in an American Indian Community Sample: Contributions of substance dependence, affective disorder, conduct disorder and PTSD

This cultural and trauma brief was developed at the request of the NCTSN to provide information about American Indian and Alaskan Native youth exposure to trauma. The Indian Country Child Trauma Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences. The American Indian historical trauma concept is an important precursor to racial trauma theory that reflects the distinct interests of sovereign Indigenous nations but shares much of the same promise and challenge.

This conceptual framework was applied to the RT literature to elaborate similar recommendations for advancing RT theory and the interests of ethnic/racial minority populations through engagement with psychology and related health fields.

This ties in with my study on “Physical Fitness and Health of Native Americans: Recognizing Athletes in Tribal Communities” simply by the evidence suggested from many researchers, that by really focusing on your body and how it feels as you exercise, you can actually help your nervous system become “unstuck” and begin to move out of the immobilization stress response that characterizes PTSD or trauma. You see my goal isn’t only on research of individuals who just weight train, run, play sports, etc. within’ communities. My goal is to see people’s “why” when it comes to the topic of physical fitness and overall wellness. Everyone has a why. For example I started because of some very traumatic experiences from time to time and I found my escape through physical health.

A quote I like that I think would tie into this research log would be from Peter A. Levine, he said, “Trauma is a fact of life. It does not however have to be a life sentence.”

The Pueblo Revolt: Were the Pueblo Indians Justified in Rebelling Against the Spanish?

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was a revolution against Spanish religious, economic, and political institutions imposed upon the Pueblos. It is the only successful Native uprising against a colonizing power in North America.

In the 1670s, the Spanish governor of New Mexico ordered several Pueblo holy men executed, and many others publicly whipped. Po’Pay, a holy man and War Captain of Ohkay Owingeh, was one of the men whipped in Santa Fe, an experience that hardened his resolve to drive the Spanish from New Mexico. In the face of turmoil, suffering from prolonged drought, and fearing the complete loss of our culture, the Pueblo people resorted to armed resistance.

The successful revolt kept the Spanish out of New Mexico for 12 years, and established a different power dynamic upon their return.

Lorena, Light Footed Woman

Lorena: Light-footed Woman is a fascinating short-documentary about running but despite some visually stunning scenes and creative flair. Maria Lorena Ramirez is an extraordinary woman achieving extraordinary running feats whilst wearing a very ordinary pair of sandals.

Ultra-marathons are grueling feats of endurance and strength alone but Lorena makes it look easy as we see her competing in several races in her trademark sandals, accompanied by classical music and some slick editing.

Interspersed around this are various face to face interviews that discuss her home life up in the mountain ranges and a basic overview of her mental prowess while running but not a whole lot else. Lorena Light-Footed Woman is not an investigation into her life or an analysis.

The short documentary is an observation of a woman who will not stop running unless health prevails.

For 27-Time Hopi High Cross country champs, Running is a tradition:

They look at running as their way of life. The coach expresses how Cross Country is more than just being physically healthy. He also mentions how Cross Country is a spiritual/mental aspect of one's life.

In the short video the coach expresses how he trains his runners very hard, he makes sure to coach them to the best of his ability and as well as making sure they know why they're running.

Running is a mental game more than a physical game. Running is in fact very taxing and brutal on one physically but they gain much more in mental health & in general physical health when doing it.