Evaluating the Impact of a Holistic, Community-Driven, Physical Activity-Based Wellness Program for Indigenous Women using Nominal Group Technique

making participation in physical activity and access to balanced nutrition challenging. In response, a holistic wellness program was developed in Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada. Multiple pro gram iterations have since been completed in urban and rural (including reserve) settings across Alberta: in Onion Lake Cree Nation, in, Lloydminster, and in Calgary. The program includes physical activity, nutrition education, access to local healthcare support, and sharing circles to facilitate reflection. This article collates three years of qualitative data between programs to answer the question: "What does the program do?" Methods Between 2017 and 2019, 24 participants, four facilitators, and three community champions completed post-program interviews. A mixed-methods, qualitative, two-part analysis was completed involving thematic analysis of transcripts followed by a structured consensus-building approach called nominal group technique (NGT). Results Collaborative analyses revealed that the program enables: 1) self-actualization through collective effort, including development of knowledge, skills, beliefs, and behaviours needed to manage one's own health, 2) improved personal wellness, and 3) access to social and cultural supports. Cultural relevancy and safety were identified as key elements in the context that supported these changes. Conclusion The wellness program for Indigenous women demonstrates positive impacts on the health and wellbeing of participants. Benefits naturally extend to participants' families, as well as to communities involved through capacity-building. Alongside the education and resources offered, the program environment also contributes to this positive impact. Objective Indigenous women experience structural barriers to wellness rooted in colonialism and related socio-political processes,