Good Movement focuses on community and culture

By Lethbridge Herald on January 5, 2026.

Submitted PHOTO Pictured are the Good Movement coaches.

By Alexandra Noad

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter- Lethbridge Herald 

A Blackfoot man who found fitness to fill a void he had while recovering from addiction is now using his knowledge to help youth find community and culture to prevent them from the firm, dark grasp of addiction where he spent many of his years as a young adult.

For most of his young adult life, Tyler Swag, founder of Good Movement, struggled with addiction, specifically alcoholism.

When Swag found sobriety, he also found fitness, which not only benefited his physical and mental wellbeing, he says it also help him find his purpose in life.

“(Fitness) was something that really benefitted me and something that allowed me to finally move forward in life and accomplish things I previously couldn’t.”

With the knowledge he had gained about the benefits of fitness, he decided to get certificates in both personal training and nutrition to help youth to do his part to ensure no one went down the road he did.

Swag says while Good Movement offers Indigenous cultural knowledge, he believes his work is meant for everyone.

“Everybody, in some capacity, struggles with addiction,” he says.

What started as a hockey camp on the Blood Reserve in March of 2023 followed by dryland training options for the kids, has since grown into a multifaceted approach to wellness for everyone.

Good Movement offers fitness, sport, nutrition along with traditional Blackfoot teachings through traditional dance and language.

Above all, Good Movement offers role models for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth alike, which Swag believes helps them connect back to their roots and stay grounded, especially at an impressionable age.

“It’s very important to connect back to your roots, to stay grounded and to know where you come from because that ultimately is going to help you find your identity, where it might be a gray area, where you might not know where you belong.”

To promote this, Good Movement has ambassadors which are youth who demonstrate respect, kindness and hold their values at a high standard.

This opportunity is not only for the youth to be a role model and inspire their peers, it’s to also give them a voice and platform, something Swag believes needs to be promoted.

“We’re trying to promote Indigenous youth and get their voice out there because, I believe, their voice is not really out there right now.

While Good Movement does promote reconciliation, their main focus is on cultural preservation as Indigenous culture, especially the language, is being lost.

Swag believes the more people to understand the culture, the more unified they will become, which will allow Blackfoot ways of knowing to flourish.

“I believe it’s really important for us all to be connected in some capacity, what background you come from, what you believe in politically, we’re trying to build a community that is all inclusive.”

Good Movement has partnered with the YMCA to teach traditional games all of the Saturdays in January, as well as the Women’s Pronghorn Soccer team to bring soccer camps also being held this month.

They have also partnered with the Piikani Board of Education, Kainai Board of Education and the Lethbridge School division to make Indigenous learning accessible to everyone.

More information on their programming can be found on their website: goodmovement.ca