Alaska’s World Eskimo-Indian Olympics: Preserving a Unique Culture through Unusual Sports

Matthew Chagluak participates in the two-foot high kick, a challenging event where athletes target a hanging object while maintaining their equilibrium.

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Centuries ago, Indigenous communities of Alaska’s coastal whaling villages devised an interesting method to announce a successful hunt.

In the expansive, flat, icy terrain where visibility extended for miles on a clear day, a runner would dash inland towards their village following a triumphant catch. On nearing their destination, the messenger would leap and kick both feet in the air. This would signal to the villagers that it was time to aid in bringing the haul home.

Such kicks also served as alarms to indicate injuries.

With time and technological progress, these forms of long-distance communication faded away. However, they are annually revived when a community comes together.

On 12th July 2023, spectators will gather in thousands to witness unique events such as one and two-footed high kicks, ear pull, seal hop, and Indian stick pull at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (WEIO) in Fairbanks, Alaska.

WEIO came into being in 1961 when non-Native airline pilots, Bill English and Tom Richards Sr, came across these traditional games while flying across remote Alaskan communities.

By that time, the encroachment of mainstream American culture threatened to erase local customs.

According to Gina Kalloch, WEIO board chairperson, these non-Native gentlemen recognized the potential endangerment of these traditions.

The inaugural WEIO was held on the banks of the Chena River in Fairbanks, bringing in athletes and dancers from various villages. The event has since grown, with about 3,000 onlookers anticipated at the Big Dipper Ice Arena this year to watch the state’s top Native athletes compete.

The games, whose origins stretch beyond living memory, are crucial to preserving cultural history and survival skills, says Kalloch, who is of Koyukon Dena and Creole descent.

The ear pull, which is akin to tug-of-war using ears, tests stamina and the ability to endure pain – essential traits for surviving Alaska’s harsh rural conditions.

The four-man carry measures how far a contestant can carry four volunteers, simulating the task of hunters carrying heavy catches in freezing temperatures.

Indian and Eskimo stick pulls are tests of grip and strength respectively, mimicking the act of holding onto a freshly-caught fish by the tail and pulling a seal out of an ice hole.

Kalloch, who first competed in the Indian stick pull in the early 1980s, is now a WEIO board member. She highlights that despite the appeal of ice hockey and basketball among Alaska’s youth, these distinctive sports are gaining popularity. They play a vital role in preserving Native Alaskan culture, reconnecting the younger generation with their heritage, and aiding those recovering from substance abuse.

Matthew Chagluak, a 16-year-old from the Yup’ik and Cup’ik culture, and Miley Kakaruk, a 15-year-old Inupiaq girl, are among the young athletes participating in various WEIO events.

The games are unique in that they encourage camaraderie among participants, regardless of age, as more experienced athletes often provide advice to their younger counterparts during competitions.

These sports not only enhance personal pride in their culture, but also foster stronger community bonds. As Kakaruk suggests, the games were once a way for her ancestors to maintain their fitness and skill levels.

To Kalloch, the preservation of Native Alaskan sport holds profound significance.

“For Indigenous people whose culture can be endangered, finding something that connects you closely to that which has been there for thousands of years, that you can personally be involved with, is an amazing gift,” she says.

Kalloch now serves on the WEIO board, after initially participating in the Games as an athlete in the early 1980s.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about World Eskimo-Indian Olympics

More about World Eskimo-Indian Olympics

• World Eskimo-Indian Olympics Official Website
• Alaska Native Heritage Center
• History and Culture of Alaska Natives
• Traditional Sports and Games of the Inuit