Joel Pedersen runs fitness programs and sports camps for inner-city kids and Indigenous groups across Saskatchewan through his company Fitness 2J2.submitted
Fitness has always been part of Joel Pedersen’s life, though he did not expect it would lead him to his current work. “Twenty-one-year-old Joel never thought he’d be a social entrepreneur,” Pedersen says, laughing at his younger self.
Growing up, Pedersen’s childhood was rich in physical activity, from cross-country skiing and canoeing to playing soccer. Even while serving in the Canadian Army Reserves and working as a police officer for the Saskatoon Police Service for 25 years, fitness remained vital to Pedersen, who hails from Fond du Lac First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation and Métis Nation Saskatchewan. Throughout his life, he witnessed how physical activity could unite people, especially when coaching youth sports or playing basketball and street hockey with kids when on police duty.
“At the time, it was foreign to a lot of inner-city kids, especially Indigenous kids, to see a young Indigenous person doing that,” he says.
Through Fitness 2J2, which he founded in 2011, Pedersen has brought community, leadership and wellness to underserved communities in Saskatchewan. His company, named after himself and his “team” of two daughters and two sons, runs various fitness programs for inner city groups and Indigenous groups, like sports and conditioning camps on First Nations territories and free self-defence classes for Indigenous women in Saskatoon’s Pleasant Hill neighbourhood.
“When I think about reconciliation in this country, this is part of it,” Pedersen says. “I’ve read enough over the years about policies, reports, and documentation. But it’s actually important to do it. I feel like my company and my staff are actually making those changes happen.”
Pedersen is part of a growing group of Indigenous fitness entrepreneurs in Canada. While their services vary, they share a commitment to improving clients’ mental and spiritual well-being through the power of community.
At Kahnawake CrossFit, Satekaienton John Diabo hopes to create a gym environment inclusive of all fitness levels.submitted
This community-centric approach is echoed by Satekaienton John Diabo, manager and head coach of Kahnawake CrossFit, located in Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec. Since launching the gym in 2016, Diabo has focused on creating an inclusive environment that welcomes people from all walks of life. He was awarded the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec’s First Peoples medal in 2022 for his contributions.
Diabo acknowledges the stigma surrounding fitness, often seen as an elite activity that can be discouraging for beginners. “My goal is to make sure everyone understands that it doesn’t matter where you come from – you can work on yourself,” he says.
Besides the coaching, this inclusiveness extends to the studio’s programs, offering women-only classes, sessions for teens and older adults, and beginner courses with subsidized fees.
Running an Indigenous fitness company with a community-centric approach can come with its challenges and learning curves. When Pedersen launched Fitness 2J2, he noticed that corporations are often less willing to partner with for-profit businesses compared to non-profit, which also typically have better access to funding. He found that forging key partnerships with organizations that share his values has been essential for providing access to fitness programs in remote First Nations and underprivileged neighbourhoods in Saskatoon.
These setbacks, however, can also result in the community working together to find solutions. In 2020, Diabo was concerned about the mental strain on his members during COVID-19 lockdowns. He worked with local Kahnawake leaders to ensure the gym could operate safely, following protocols like masking and social distancing. He also introduced outdoor CrossFit classes whenever possible.
Another Mohawk-owned gym is Kanehsatake CrossFit, founded in 2017 by sibling duo Julie Anne David and Mike David to fill a fitness centre gap in the community. Just two years after opening, the gym faced a devastating setback when it was destroyed by a fire, suspected to be arson. Despite the loss, the community came together, using local spaces to continue workouts until the gym reopened two months later.
Today, Kanehsatake CrossFit remains a pillar of the community, offering programs deeply meaningful to Indigenous people. Every July 11, for instance, the gym organizes a Warrior Workout to commemorate the 1990 Oka Crisis. There are also sessions for Kanehsatake elders. Manager Caitlyn Richard, who is also Mohawk, says that whether it’s a regular class, or a culturally relevant session, being able to move your body in a welcoming environment with people that you know is healing for a community that has witnessed ongoing trauma.
“Exercising and moving your body is a form of medicine,” Richard says.