Knuckle hop and two-foot high kick: the Olympics for Alaska Natives breathe new life into ancient games
Summary
The World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO) is an annual event in Fairbanks, Alaska, where Indigenous athletes from Alaska, Greenland, Siberia, and Canada compete in traditional Arctic games. These ancient games, originally practiced to build survival skills, have survived colonization and are now celebrated to preserve culture and community.Key Facts
- WEIO is held every year in Fairbanks, Alaska, attracting hundreds of Indigenous athletes.
- Competitions include traditional games like the two-foot high kick and the dene stick pull.
- The two-foot high kick started as a way for distant messengers to signal successful whale hunts.
- Nicole Johnson set the women’s world record in the two-foot high kick in 1989 and continues to compete and support the event today.
- The games are open to Indigenous participants who are at least 12 years old, with some competing into their 70s.
- Indigenous communities practiced these games secretly during colonization when cultural expression was suppressed.
- In recent years, the games have grown, with nearly 3,000 spectators attending last year’s event.
- Community leaders like Kyle Worl emphasize preserving these traditions to pass down Indigenous knowledge and culture to younger generations.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
