Visitor Guide

ABOUT THE GAMES

To share the spirit and beauty of the Mat-Su by hosting a world-class event that promotes healthy recreational activities and empowers future leaders through sport and culture.

Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games unites and celebrates our community while connecting us to our Northern neighbors.

VALUES

RISE — Resilience, Inclusion, Strength and Excellence

Welcome to the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games!

Whether you are a longtime local, or this is your first visit to our fine Borough, we are thrilled you have chosen to spend time with us. The Arctic Winter Games are a biennial multisport and Indigenous cultural event involving circumpolar peoples residing in communities or countries bordering the Arctic Ocean. Our Host Society has been hard at work inspiring and organizing athletes, artists, culture bearers, and communities to come together and make this week long event happen. Together, we are celebrating being “People of the North”. We truly hope you enjoy the festivities, competitions, and cultural performances scheduled this week. While at the Games we hope you catch the spirit of pin trading and collect, trade and make new friends.

Thank you again for choosing to celebrate the 2024 Arctic Winter Games with us. You are an integral part of our celebration. We look forward to creating a truly unforgettable experience for you.

Kind regards,

Amy Spargo

Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games Board Chair

GAMES HISTORY

By Charles Knowles

AN ARCTIC TRADITION

The Arctic Winter Games, a biennial sports and cultural event, stand as a testament to the spirit and capabilities of people from the Circumpolar North. Founded in 1969 under the leadership of Governor Walter J. Hickel of Alaska, Stuart M. Hodgson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, and Yukon Commissioner James Smith in Yellowknife.

The Games were born from the desire to provide a competitive platform tailored to the unique environment and needs of Northern athletes. Initially featuring participants from Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Alaska, the Games quickly became a rallying point for cultures and athletes across the North.

Over the years, the Arctic Winter Games have grown in scope and scale, drawing in athletes from a diverse range of regions including Greenland, Northern Quebec, and Sami regions of Scandinavia. This expansion not only broadened the competitive field but also enhanced the cultural richness of the Games, making them a vibrant melting pot of Northern traditions and modern sportsmanship.

ARCTIC SPORTS

The sports at the Arctic Winter Games are a unique blend of traditional and contemporary. Athletes compete in sports like Dene games and snowshoeing, alongside more globally recognized sports such as hockey, basketball, and wrestling. This fusion demonstrates the Games’ commitment to honoring Northern heritage while embracing the broader world of sports.

NORTHERN CULTURES

Beyond sports, the Arctic Winter Games are a celebration of Northern culture and community. They feature cultural galas and workshops where artists and performers from various regions share their traditions, crafts, music, and stories. These cultural exchanges are as vital to the Games as the sporting events, fostering unity and understanding among the circumpolar communities.

The Games have also been a platform for nurturing young talent, providing opportunities for Northern youth to hone their athletic and artistic skills. Many of the athletes who have competed in the Arctic Winter Games have gone on to become positive role models and leaders in the community. Showcasing the high caliber of talent nurtured in the North, many of them excel at national and international levels.

PIN TRADING

An integral part of the cultural experience at the Arctic Winter Games is the tradition of pin trading. Each year, a variety of specially designed pins are produced. This tradition fosters a continued celebration of the Games, allowing participants to take home a tangible piece of the Games’ history and spirit. Pin trading at the Arctic Winter Games symbolizes the unity and shared experiences of those gathered from across the Circumpolar regions.

In conclusion, the Arctic Winter Games are much more than a sporting event. They are a celebration of Northern life and culture, a showcase of athletic prowess, and a vital link that connects the diverse and often remote communities of the Circumpolar North. As the Games continue to evolve, they remain a beacon of unity, friendly competition, and cultural exchange in the Arctic region.

GAMES AWARDS

WHY THE ULU?

The iconic Ulu has been given out in the form of medals since the first Arctic Winter Games in 1970. The Ulu is a culturally significant, all purpose knife historically used by the Inuit people. The Ulu which is often passed down generationally symbolizes northern lifestyles and traditions that are integral to the Arctic Winter Games.

FAIR PLAY PIN

Throughout the course of Arctic Winter Games, the international committee and those that they designate can award a fair play pin to ANYONE - even spectators! The fair play pin is about showing integrity and embodying team spirit. Those who earn a fair play pin are recognized daily in Ulu News, and will be commemorated in the 2024 Arctic Winter Games Photobook available for sale at awg2024.org beginning April 15.

WHAT IS THE HODGSON TROPHY?

At each Arctic Winter Games, the AWG International Committee presents the Hodgson Trophy to the contingent whose participants best display fair play and team spirit. Team members of the winning contingent also receive a distinctive pin in recognition of their accomplishment.

The trophy was donated to the Arctic Winter Games Corporation in 1978 by Commissioner S.M. Hodgson of the Northwest Territories. It is a piece of Inuit artwork from the Canadian Arctic. At the center of the trophy stands a narwhal tusk decorated in scrimshaw and mounted in soapstone. A walrus carved into the base wraps itself around the tusk. Near the top, a soapstone bear clings to the tusk, symbolizing “reaching for the top” in competition and fairplay.

The Hodgson Trophy is on display on the second floor at the Canada Games Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Typically, a framed photograph of the trophy is presented to the winning contingent at each set of Arctic Winter Games. In hopes to ease the difficulties of traveling with such an item, The Mat-Su 2024 Host Society has made an effort to create a new tradition by creating a flag representative of the Hodgson Trophy.

The flag boasts a display of Northern Lights with a photo of the Hodgson Trophy and will allow the winners of the trophy a public display akin to many other major sporting honors.

PAST HODGSON TROPHY WINNERS

1978 AK

1980 Yukon

1982 Not Awarded

1984 Yukon

1986 Yukon

1988 Yukon

1990 AK

1992 NWT

1994 Greenland

1996 NWT

1998 Yukon

2000 Nunavut

2002 Greenland

2004 Nunavut

2006 Not Awarded

2008 : Nunavut

2010 : Alaska

2012 : Nunavut

2014 : Greenland

2016 : Alaska

2018 : Alaska

2020 : AWG Host Society Volunteers & Staff

2023 : Greenland

CULTURAL EVENTS

Pamyua Concert & Indigenous Fashion Show

MARCH 14, 2024 7:00PM

GLENN MASSAY THEATER

TICKETED

AWG 2024 will proudly welcome Pamyua to the stage of the Glenn Massey Theater. Pamyua is Alaska’s premier Inuit musical group, showcasing their culture through music and dance performance. Their shows include a unique lineup of Indigenous Alaskan and Danish performers. They celebrate and share Indigenous knowledge and history, using traditional melodies reinterpreted with contemporary vocalization and instrumentation. Prior to the concert, AWG will present an Indigenous Fashion Show. Featuring Indigenous designers of traditional and contemporary fashion, winter wear, jewelry and more, it will thrill locals and visitors alike.

Cultural Gala

MARCH 15, 2024

GLENN MASSAY THEATER

TICKETED

University of Alaska, Mat-Su Campus | The Arctic Winter Games Cultural Gala is a showcase of diverse youth talent from across the Circumpolar North. Each of the 8 participating contingents will rehearse and perform their own piece, representing their region through their choice of discipline (dance, vocals, drumming, acrobatics, theater, etc.). This will be followed by a collaboratively-created performance piece that features all of the participating youth.

THE GALA PERFORMANCES WILL TAKE PLACE AT 3 PM AND 7 PM, HOSTED AT UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA, MAT-SU CAMPUS

SPORTS SCHEDULE

SPORTS EVENTS

Twenty Arctic Sports

ALPINE SKIING

Alpine skiing competition at the Arctic Winter Games consists of four events: which could include slalom, giant slalom, parallel slalom, and a team event.

ARCHERY

Appearing for the second time at the Arctic Winter Games the Archery competition consists of four events: Barebow, Compound, Mixed team competition Barebow and Mixed team Competition Compound.

ARCTIC SPORTS

Inuit games competitions include the One-Foot High Kick, Two-Foot High Kick, Alaskan High Kick, Kneel Jump, Sledge Jump, and Triple Jump. Junior men and women in both classes compete in the Arm Pull; open men compete as well in the Airplane, One Hand Reach, Head Pull and Knuckle Hop.

BADMINTON

Badminton competition at the Arctic Winter Games includes singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. Competition begins with round-robin play, followed by a medal round among the top-ranked players.

BASKETBALL

Competition in basketball begins with a round-robin tournament followed by a medal round based upon the final rankings in round-robin play.

BIATHLON SKI

Ski biathlon competition at the Arctic Winter Games consists of four events: interval start, mass or pursuit start, relay, and a sprint event.

BIATHLON SNOWSHOE

Snowshoe biathlon competition at the Arctic Winter Games consists of four events: interval start, mass or pursuit start, relay, and a sprint event.

CROSS COUNTRY SKI

Cross country ski competition at the Arctic Winter Games consists of four events: interval start, mass start, relay, and sprint.

CURLING

Competition in curling begins with a round-robin tournament followed by a medal round based upon the final rankings in round-robin play.

DENE GAMES

Dene games competitions include: finger pull, snowsnake, stick pull, hand games, and pole push, and an all-round event consisting of the scores for the three individual events.

FIGURE SKATING

Figure skating is a female-only sport at the Arctic Winter Games. Events include short program, free skate, combined individual, and team event.

FUTSAL

Futsal competition is held in two girls’ classes (Under 18, Under 16) and two boys’ classes (Under 18, Under 16). Teams consist of nine athletes and one coach.

GYMNASTICS

Gymnastics is a female-only sport at the Arctic Winter Games, in which the four members of a team compete as individuals in single-event competitions (uneven bars, vault, floor exercises, balance beam), all-round and a team event, all in a single age-class.

HOCKEY

Ice hockey competition is held in junior women’s and Under 18 and Under 15 boys age classes. Teams participate in a round-robin tournament to determine seeding for medal-round pairings.

SNOWBOARDING

Snowboarding competition at the Arctic Winter Games consists of four events: banked slalom, slopestyle, boardercross, and half-pipe, as well as combined individual ranking.

SNOWSHOEING

Snowshoeing competition at the Arctic Winter Games consists of four events: long distance, short/middle distance, relay, and a combined event consisting of three shorter distances on a track.

SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATING

Short Track Speed Skating competition at the Arctic Winter Games consists of four individual events over ageappropriate distances, as well as a relay.

TABLE TENNIS

Table tennis competition at the Arctic Winter Games includes, singles, doubles and a team event. Individual competition begins with round-robin play, followed by a medal round among the top-ranked players; the team event follows the same model.

VOLLEYBALL

Competition in volleyball begins with a round-robin tournament followed by a medal round based upon the final rankings in round-robin play.

WRESTLING

Wrestling competition is held in junior boys (seven wrestlers on a team) and junior girls (five wrestlers on a team) classes. Events include a team competition consisting of a dual meet round-robin tournament, as well as individual competition and optional Inuit wrestling competition in each weight class.

ALASKAN HOSPITALITY

Mat-Su: The home of the 2024 Arctic Winter Games

BY JACOB MANN | MAT-SU VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough is hosting the 2024 Arctic Winter Games from March 10 to March 16.

This is the first time the Arctic Winter Games have been held in the Mat-Su and the seventh time they’ve taken place in Alaska. Thousands of visitors from around the world will make their way to the Mat-Su and surrounding areas for the Games.

Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games Director of Care and Comfort Anjanette Steer said having the 2024 games hosted in her community is a very exciting opportunity.

“We’re super honored to have it here in the Mat-Su Valley,” Steer said. “It’s fun to show them our part of the world for sure.”

The Borough has funded a variety of projects of all

shapes and sizes to prepare for the 2024 games such as paving a new parking lot at the Government Peak Recreation Area and helping local schools prepare to lodge participating athletes.

A majority of the athletic events will take place in the Mat-Su with some events occurring in Eagle River and Anchorage.

Outdoor events such as skiing and snowshoeing will take place at venues like the Skeetawk Ski Area and Kellogg Field School. Indoor events such as figure skating and gymnastics will take place at facilities like the Menard Sports Center and Denali Gymnastics.

According to the Arctic Winter Games International Committee website, Yukon Commissioner James

Smith, Northwest Territories Commissioner Stuart Hodgson Alaska Governor Walter Hickel established the Arctic Winter Games in 1969 to address the lack of competition northern athletes had access to.

The first Arctic Winter Games were held in Yellowknife, Canada in 1970. The unique athletic event has since been held in northern communities across the world.

The Arctic Winter Games is a biennial multi-sport and cultural event hosted by communities in the Arctic region, particularly circumpolar areas such as Alaska, Canada, Kalaallit Nunaat, and Northern Scandinavia.

These games draw athletes of all ages from across the world to compete in a variety of winter sports. Some examples of AWG events include traditional Arctic sports such as snowshoeing and Dene games as well as modern events like skiing and ice hockey.

In addition to testing the athletic prowess of contestants, the games also serve as a cultural exchange and chance to further understanding of the diverse Arctic Indigenous populations.

AWG athletes exemplify the spirit of their Arctic communities by persevering through tough winter conditions through a platform that celebrates their rich heritage and sportsmanship.

“It’s amazing to watch,” Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games General Manager Karen Lane said.

There will be an opening ceremony for the 2024 Arctic Winter Games held at the Menard Sports Center Sunday, March 10.

The ceremony will feature a parade of nations, the final leg of the torch relay, an artistic program, an athlete oath, and the lighting of the Arctic Winter Games cauldron. After the cauldron lighting, Alaska’s Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom will declare the Games open. This is a ticketed event.

The Arctic Winter Games Cultural Gala will be held at

The event is designed to showcase diverse youth talent from across the circumpolar north. Each of the eight participating contingents will represent their region through performances such as dance, vocals, drumming, acrobatics, and theater. A collaborative performance featuring all the participating youth will take place afterwards. The Gala takes place at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The Pamyua Concert and Indigenous Fashion Show takes place at the Glenn Massay Theater Friday, March 15 at 6 p.m.

Pamyua is an Alaskan Inuit group that showcases their culture through music and dance performances that celebrates and shares Indigenous knowledge and history through traditional melodies reinterpreted with contemporary vocalization and instrumentation. There will be an Indigenous Fashion Show prior to the concert that will feature traditional and contemporary fashion, winter wear, jewelry, and more.

The Arctic Winter Games Winter Carnival and Makers Market takes place at the Alaska State Fairgrounds

Friday, March 15 from 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, March 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This event will feature food trucks, carnival rides, sports demonstrations, caribou petting zoo, and an Indigenous/Northern Makers’ Market. Fireworks will close out both days of the event. This event is free and open to the public.

The Arctic Winter Games closing ceremony takes place at the Menard Sports Center Saturday, March 16 at 3 p.m.

For a full list of activities, event tickets, and general information about the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games, visit www.awg2024.org

For background information such as the overall history of the Arctic Winter Games,

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

CHAMPION $250K+

PARTNER $100K+

SUPPORTER $25K+

SPORTS VENUE SPONSOR $15K+

STEWARD $10K+

ADVOCATE $50K+

FRIEND OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE $5K

Richard & Diane Block Foundation

HOST SOCIETY

BY JACOB MANN | MAT-SU VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN

Preparing for the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games is no small undertaking. It requires a diverse pool of knowledgeable staff, volunteers, and community partners such as local businesses and government bodies to ensure everything is ready when athletes from across the world arrive to participate in the oncein-a-lifetime event.

The Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games Host Society was formed in early 2021 after the Mat-Su Valley was announced as the venue for the 2024 games. It’s filled with staff members and volunteers across all walks of life that share the same vision of putting on the best possible event while highlighting the Valley’s culture and natural wonders.

“It’s super exciting,” Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games Director of Care and Comfort Anjanette Steer said. Overall preparations for the 2024 event have been coming together nicely, according to Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games General Manager Karen Lane.

“I think it’s going great,” Lane said

This isn’t the first time the Arctic Winter Games have been held in Alaska and this isn’t Lane’s first time helping manage local endeavors. She was also the General Manager of the 2014 games held in Fairbanks. She said it’s always a honor to help her fellow Alaskans accommodate the massive influx of visitors from around the world.

“It’s just an experience of a lifetime,” Lane said. Lane said that volunteering for the Arctic Winter Games is a unique and rewarding experience. She said it’s common for volunteers to make lifelong friends in the process of helping out.

“It’s a great opportunity for people. It’s a lot of work but

Staff and volunteers working hard to prepare for Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games

it’s also a lot of fun,” Lane said. “It’s sad when it’s over.”

According to the Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games website, an estimated 2,000 volunteers are needed to put on the large-scale event featuring athletic activities that spread across the Valley and beyond over the course of six days.

“We can’t do this on our own. We need a lot of help,” Steer said.

According to Steer, most of their board members are volunteers and they have a limited number of paid staff members. The rest of their workforce is composed of local individuals and groups volunteering their time and resources to make the 2024 games possible. There’s also a wide range of local businesses, organizations, and government bodies that help finance the games in various ways.

“We have so many people in the community working towards a common goal,” Steer said, Steer said the Arctic Winter Games International Committee oversees their efforts and offers guidance along the way,

“It’s nice to have their collaboration with this,” Steer said.

Steer said that she attended the 1996 Arctic Winter Games held in Chugiak/Eagle River. She grew up in the Valley and when she found out the 2024 games were being held in her community, she immediately expressed interest in helping out wherever she could. She said that one of her main motivations was to help give back to her community.

“What’s unique about the Arctic Winter Games is that it brings culture to the forefront,” Steer said. “I just love where I live and wanted to share that with others.”

You

You

purchase merchandise during Games week at any of these locations. Can’t wait to see you there!*

THE ALASKA AIRLINES ARCTIC WINTER GAMES

HEADQUARTERS, located inside the Palmer Train Depot at 610 S. Alaska St. in Palmer, AK will be the home base for pin trading. It is open 11-7, Monday, March 10 - Friday, March 15.

PIN TRADING

Often called the twenty-first sport of the Arctic Winter Games , pin trading quickly evolves into an addictive pursuit. Some are drawn to the simplicity of collecting souvenirs from the Games, while others feel compelled to amass every “official” pin associated with the event. This activity transcends age, as some of the most dedicated collectors are adults who have been involved in the Games in various capacities over the years. A gathering of individuals around a table or on the floor, heads bent over, unmistakably signals the intensity of ongoing pin trading.

During the initial three Games (1970, 1972, and 1974), pin trading wasn’t particularly significant for the participating groups. It wasn’t until the 1976 Games that only two AWG-specific pins were crafted: the widely recognized small ulu pin of the International Committee in 1972 and an Anchorage Host Society pin in 1974. Pin trading during this period mainly revolved around those produced by political entities, sporting organizations, and the Olympics. Professional pin traders started making appearances in the mid-1970s, specializing in Olympics pins and anticipating the potential growth of AWG as another lucrative pin venue.

In 1976, there were nine AWG pins, but the count increased to 15 four years later. In 1982, Team NWT created a pin for each of the 15 sports, raising the total to 29. Team Yukon followed suit in 1984, pushing the pin count to 40. The “modern” era of AWG pin production began in 1986 with a substantial increase to 80 official pins. Since then, almost every Games, except for two, has produced at least this number of pins. In 1994, the pin count reached 108, surpassed only in 2002 when the Games were held in two sites, and both host societies significantly contributed to the record total of 131.

Competition Location

Non-Competition Location Major Road or Highway

Cultural Events

3

Opening & Closing Ceremonies - Menard Center, Wasilla

Pamyua Concert & Indigenous Fashion Show - Glenn Massay Theater, Palmer

Cultural Gala - Glenn Massay Theater, Palmer

Alpine Ski - Skeetawk, Hatcher Pass

Archery - Screaming Eagle Archery, Wasilla

Arctic Sports - Colony Middle School, Palmer

Badminton - Colony High School, Palmer

Basketball - Wasilla High School, Wasilla

Biathlon Ski - Kincaid Park, Anchorage

Biathlon Snowshoe - Kincaid Park, Anchorage

Cross Country Ski - Government Peak Recreation Center

Curling - MTA Events Center, Palmer

Dene Games - Sutton Elementary School, Sutton + Menard Center, Wasilla

Figure Skating - Harry J. McDonald Memorial Center, Eagle River

Futsal - Palmer High School, Palmer

Gymnastics - Denali Gymnastics & Fitness

Hockey - Menard Center, Wasilla

Snowboarding - Skeetawk, Hatcher Pass

Snowshoeing - Palmer Junior Middle School, Palmer + APU Kellogg Campus, Speed Skating - Harry J. McDonald Memorial Center, Eagle River

Table Tennis - Wasilla Middle School, Wasilla

Volleyball - Palmer Junior Middle School, Palmer

Wrestling - Teeland Middle School, Wasilla

TEAMS

The Mat-Su Borough is proud to welcome athletes from around the Circumpolar North for a week-long sport and cultural exchange! Learn more about the team who will be participating.

ALASKA Established in 1968 as a non-profit, Arctic Winter Games Team Alaska (AWGTA) cultivates and celebrates sport, social exchange, and culture. Their team colors are blue and gold.

ALBERTA NORTH joined the Arctic Winter Games in 1986 and hosted for the first time in 1994 in Slave Lake. The team colors of Alberta North are royal blue and white.

KALAALLIT NUNAAT has been participating in the Arctic Winter Games since 1990. In 2002, Kalaallit Nunaat hosted the Games for the first time in Nuuk, and they last hosted the Games in 2016. The team colors are red and white.

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES (NWT) was the first team to host the Arctic Winter Games in 1970 in Yellowknife, and last hosted the Games in 2018. Team colors are navy, sky blue and white.

NUNAVIK-QUEBEC, also known as Arctic Quebec, participated in the Arctic Winter Games in 1972, 1974, 1976, and 1986. The Team returned to the Games in 2000 and has participated ever since. The team colors are lime green and black.

NUNAVUT Prior to 2002, Nunavut participated in every Arctic Winter Games as part of Team NWT. Since that time, it has become a permanent member. The team colors are red, yellow and blue.

SÁPMI is the cultural region traditionally inhabited by the Sami people. The region stretches over the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The team colors are red, yellow, blue and black.

YUKON Team Yukon has participated in every Games since its inception in 1970 with Whitehorse hosting the Games six times. The city was scheduled to host for the seventh time in 2020, however, the event was canceled due the global pandemic, COVID-19. The team colors are black, red and white.

CONTIGENT TEAMS AND THEIR EVENTS

ALPINE SKI

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

ARCHERY

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Northwest Territories

ARCTIC SPORTS

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

Kalaallit Nunaat

Nunavik

BADMINTON

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

Kalaallit Nunaat

Nunavik

BASKETBALL

Alaska

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

BIATHLON SKI

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Northwest Territories

BIATHLON SNOWSHOE

Alaska

Yukon

Northwest Territories

CROSS COUNTRY SKI

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

Kalaallit Nunaat

Sapmi

CULTURAL

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

Kalaallit Nunaat

Sapmi

Nunavik

CURLING

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

DENE

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

Nunavik

FIGURE SKATING

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

FUTSAL

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

Sapmi

GYMNASTICS

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Northwest Territories

HOCKEY

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

SNOWBOARDING

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Northwest Territories

Kalaallit Nunaat

SNOWSHOEING

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Northwest Territories

Nunavik

SPEED SKATING

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

TABLE TENNIS

Alaska

Yukon

Nunavut

Nunavut

Nunavik

VOLLEYBALL

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

WRESTLING

Alaska

Alberta North

Yukon

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

WINTER CARNIVAL & MAKERS MARKET

3/15-16

Don’t miss the fun! Entry is Free!

ALASKA STATE FAIRGROUNDS | PALMER, AK

Friday, 3/15 3pm-9pm | Saturday, 3/16 11am-4pm

Get outside and enjoy the spring snow with your fellow northerners from around the globe! During this event, the AK state Fairgrounds will come alive with food trucks, carnival rides, sports demonstrations, caribou petting zoo, and best of all an Indigenous/Northern Makers’ Market on Friday and Saturday, featuring the very best of AK’s crafters, artists and makers. This event is free and open to the public, and will close with community fireworks on Friday evening!

The Carnival will include:

HOT DRINK STATIONS

RIDES BY GOLDEN WHEEL AMUSEMENTS

FIREWORKS BY GORILLA FIREWORKS

BLANKET TOSS REINDEER PETTING ZOO

WARMING STATIONS

FOOD TRUCKS

PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES

CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

LOCAL AND INDIGENOUS MAKER’S MARKET INSIDE

RAVEN HALL

COMMUNITY RESOURCE VENDORS

CULTURAL SHARING - Learn skills, history, and more!

Participate in the CULTURAL SCAVENGER HUNT throughout the winter carnival (first 50 to complete the list can earn a pin!)

...AND MORE!

Divine Dips

Fort McMurray Métis Trading

Suit’kaaq Beadwork

Manifest Native Creations

ULU NEWS

The Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games will have one of the first multi-media deliveries of Ulu News that the circumpolar North has ever seen. With the addition of social media and videos, and even some radio, we stand to change the way Arctic Winter Games operate. Our mark on the Arctic Winter Games will be a culture of strong communication, paving the way for those who host in the future to create an all encompassing media experience for participants, families, staff and spectators for years to come.

PAPER

2024 will mark the first time Ulu news has not been distributed in print. The Ulu News Team is confident that our incorporation of multimedia options will continue to keep Ulu News accessible from around the globe. You can view a pdf of the daily edition of Ulu News at awg2024.org/ulunews.

VIDEO

Visit our tiktok account at @awg2024 to view live news clips throughout the day with our news host, Rainey Spurlock! These news clips are aimed at our youth viewers.

RADIO

Tune into KHITZ 107.1 FM Monday through Friday, 8am10am to get Ulu News by ear with Erin Moore! KHITZ broadcast is also available to stream at khitz1071.com - a great option for international listeners!

WEB

Daily articles for each days ulu news will be uploaded to our AWG2024 news blog at ww.awg2024.org/ media. For coaches, mission staff, volunteers, and participants a daily notification will arrive through GEMS.pro to alert you that the latest edition of ULU News is available to read.

ULU NEWS

Ulu News Volunteer Staff Includes Krysta Voskowsky, Charles Knowles, Erin Moore, John Ruysniak, Annie Alderman, Rainey Spurlock, and a host of other photographers, volunteers, livestreamers, and more!

THEME SONG PORTUGAL. THE MAN

ABOUT THE BAND

The Portland, Oregon based group began their career in their home state of Alaska and have toured the globe playing to millions of people across 6 continents.

Portugal The Man have been Platinum selling artists in 10 countries and counting, and were recently honored with the Legend Award at the Native American Music Awards, as well as the Public Sector Leadership Award by the National Congress of American Indians. After years of advocacy and activism, the band launched PTM Foundation in 2019.

-PTM FOUNDATION WEBSITE

Pack up the sled bags/ Set the hooks in the snow/ Grape Jelly and Smoked Salmon/ Now I cant take anymore

We got no rat race out here/

We got no ladders to climb/ Ain’t nobody that can leave me/ I leave the world behind

You don’t need to take everything, man/ Just take what you need

We rise strong together/ Just as the light of spring/ comes from the dark of winter/ Our strength comes from our challenges/ Rise strong, Fly North

Runners in the snow/ Harness me up and let me go/

Runners in the snow/ Harness me up and let me go/

30

Celebrating 54 Years of Arctic Winter Games

BY GEORGE V. SMITH (ABRIDGED)

Exhibit

This exhibit is the result of chance occurrences and obsessive collecting over the past thirteen years. In 1992, Wendy Shiffler, Chef de Mission for the Alaskan team in the Arctic Winter Games (AWG), asked me to join his staff for the Games in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. I was familiar with the Games since my older daughter had participated in 1986 on one of Alaska’s indoor soccer teams.

During my first week at the Arctic Winter Games, I was initially perplexed by, and then fascinated with, the frenzied pin collecting that occupied the free time of many participants. With only two days left in the Games, I decided to try my hand at this “sport” and, as we departed for Alaska, I left with a collection of about 70 of the 95 pins from the 1992 Games. I continued with Arctic Winter Games Team Alaska through the 2004 Games, first with the mission staff and then as a board member.

My collection grew with each Games and, by the late 1990s, I became obsessed with a desire to put together the definitive collection of AWG pins. In 1999, when I was visiting the Team Alaska office in Fairbanks, I noticed a huge file of office records and other materials. After being told that these were the records of Alaska’s participation in the AWG from its beginnings, I suggested that we should organize the materials and find an archival institution to preserve them.

The board agreed, and the Historical Collections of the Alaska State Library accepted them. While processing the records, I came across old team uniforms, posters, and other memorabilia that more appropriately belonged in a museum, so I approached the Alaska State Museum to see if it would be interested in establishing an AWG collection. They agreed, and I

Washington, D.C.

began contacting current and former AWG staff and participants from all contingents seeking donations to fill out the collection.

The response was overwhelming, and the collection eventually grew to almost 300 items plus the pin collection. In 2003, the Alaska State Museum asked if I would be willing to curate an AWG exhibit that would open at the 2006 Games, which would be returning to Alaska. I agreed, knowing that the excellent museum staff would help me prepare the exhibit.

While I amassed the collection, wrote the catalog and exhibit text, and chose many of the items to be displayed, the actual designs of the exhibit and catalog are due to the brilliance of Paul Gardinier, Exhibition Designer for the Alaska State Museum, and Laura Lucas, graphic designer. The pin collection is a centerpiece of the exhibit and includes many generous donations that were added to my original collection. This exhibit would not be possible without the cooperation of many people. Donations from the Arctic Winter Games Team Alaska office, Don Cather, Caroline Hudnall, Dick Larsen, and Patrick O’Donnell form the core of the museum’s collection.

The collection was greatly strengthened through the contributions of various persons who both contributed objects for the exhibit and supported the catalog execution.

MASCOT PREVIEW

VAA, local children showcase 2024

Arctic Winter Games chickadee costumes

BY JACOB MANN | MAT-SU VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN

Valley Arts Alliance members and local children helped the Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games Host Society preview handmade chickadee costumes that will be used as mascots during the 2024 event.

VAA member Nan Potts and several local children showcased the chickadee costumes during the 2024 Wearable Art and Runway Fashion Show in downtown Palmer. Potts took the little chickadees under her wing and led them down the fashion runway to give community members a sneak peak of what to expect during the 2024 Arctic Winter Games. She said it was a great way to promote the Games while bringing various facets of the community together and giving local children an opportunity for personal growth.

“That was fun,” Potts said. “It’s excellent for the kids. It’s an adventure on the runway.”

Local eight-year-old boy, Aiden Watson was one of several children that helped model the costumes during the Wearable Art Show. He said it was a lot of fun feeling like a bird, “being able to be free and in the wild.”

“He’s a nature lover,” Watson’s grandmother Niki Pease said with a laugh.

Pease is a longtime member of VAA. She said that she’s participated in the Wearable Art Show about 15 times and it made her very happy to see her grandson walking down the runway for the first time.

“I’m proud of my grandson and I’m delighted that he had this growth experience,” Pease said. Now he’s been inspired to make all kinds of outfits.”

to the public.

Pease said it’s a prime example of the sheer amount of creativity that’s present in the Mat-Su.

‘We have such creativity in our community,” Pease said. “I think it’s amazing. Isn’t it nice there’s this nice outlet... something that brings us together instead of taking us apart. Isn’t that what the arts should do?”

According to the Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games website, chickadees were chosen as the “animal ambassadors” for the 2024 event after a period of collecting community input to reflect the overall spirit of the Games.

Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games Arts and Culture Program Coordinator Telsche Overby this project and recruited VAA members Bee Adler, Colleen Wake, Linda Lockhart to design the chickadee costumes.

“It’s been a lot of fun to work on,” Lockhart said.

Lockhart said they drew inspiration from Black-capped chickadees when designing the costumes. She said they also made it a point to implement similar shades of blue, purple, and teal into the costumes to reflect the colors used in the Arctic Winter Games logo.

“I think it’s really neat they’re contacting local artists,” Lockhart said. “It’s really cool to know we’re part of something so big.”

Potts and the children were simply modeling the costumes at the Wearable Art Show to give the community a preview. Lockhart said that they still have to work on the final fittings for a local dance group that will be wearing the costumes during the Games.

“It’s really exciting to see,” Lockhart said. ‘It gives people a little bit of a heads up for what’s in store.”

For more information about the Valley Arts Alliance, visit valleyartsalliance.com.

FACILITIES EXPANSION

Community, economic development pave way for Arctic Winter Games

BY MARK KELSEY | FOR THE MAT-SU VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN

It is no secret that the Mat-Su Borough has been the fastest growing part of the state for years. Even as the state’s overall population has trended downward in recent years, the Valley continues to grow.

In the three-decade period between 1990 and 2020, the borough population has tripled, from 39,683 to 107,081. Much of that growth has been driven by people relocating from Anchorage.

The lure of lower housing costs and larger lots with fewer restrictions has created a boom in housing construction and real estate here. That boom has driven growth in the retail and services sector that makes trips to Anchorage almost completely unnecessary today.

As president and CEO of the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau, Casey Ressler knows a thing or two about community and what makes one attractive.

As someone who grew up here, he has seen the transformation of a sleepy wayside between Anchorage and Denali National Park into its own self-sufficient community.

That transformation will enable the Mat-Su to host thousands of visitors in March for the biennial Arctic Winter Games, an athletic competition and cultural exchange for youth from the circumpolar north.

“There’s obviously been a lot of changes that rapid growth brings to a community,” Ressler said. “Twenty years ago, we simply couldn’t have hosted the Games.” Even something as basic as lodging was insufficient then. There was also only one indoor ice arena, the Brett Memorial in Wasilla. And the decades-long dream of skiing in Hatcher Pass was still being resolved.

“Growing as a community means more than just an

influx of people. It’s also about infrastructure,” he said. “With Skeetawk, Government Peak Recreation Area, an improved transportation system, and similar projects, we’re in a position where we can host events like Arctic Winter Games now.”

Despite those changes, though, one vital aspect of the Mat-Su remains constant, according to Ressler, who also serves as director of marketing for the 2024 Games.

“The sense of place hasn’t changed,” he said. “Through the growing pains, I think our community still has a sense of civic pride, which is important.”

Brad Hanson, another longtime Valley resident, made similar observations. The 1980 Palmer High grad, who has served as director of community development for the City of Palmer since 2018, said lack of infrastructure had long been a stumbling block in the Mat-Su.

“I don’t think there’s any way we could’ve hosted the Arctic Winter Games 20 years ago,” he said. “Without the expansion of all these facilities, we couldn’t have done it.”

Hanson, a youth hockey coach since 1998, said just the lack of refrigerated, indoor ice would have made hosting impossible.

The Brett was the only show in town for ice until 2005. That meant a lot of outside practicing or early morning scheduling of teams on the Brett rink. Hanson said he remembers practicing with his team at 7 a.m., right after the Palmer High team finished its 5:30 a.m. practice. So when the Menard Center came online in Wasilla in 2005, and the MTA Center followed a year later in Palmer, the stress on facilities was alleviated. Nearly 20 years later, both venues will figure prominently in the Arctic Winter Games schedule.

Don Dyer, longtime local businessman and the last person to hold the position of director of economic development for the Mat-Su Borough, applauded the “really solid hockey culture here” that pushed demand for ice time and essentially drove the expansion of facilities.

He also said the decision to make the new facilities more than just ice rinks was critical to economic development around them. As a multi-use facility, the Menard is useful to more than just skaters.

Billing itself “the premier indoor sports and event facility in the Mat-Su Valley, the facility’s 104,000 square feet includes an indoor artificial turf court, a running and walking track, batting cage with pitching machine, community meeting rooms, and a large kitchen. There’s also a one-mile paved walking trail around the perimeter of the property.

“The commercial kitchen is enormous, and so perfect for so many things,” Dyer said.

The administration of Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford declined to comment.

The MTA Events Center, in Palmer, is a 34,000-squarefoot arena featuring an NHL-size ice rink and indoor walking track. Like the Menard, it has struggled to pay for itself over the years. But back in Palmer City Hall, Community Development Director Hanson is quick to point out that the value of sports and recreation infrastructure transcends dollars.

“It goes to the quality of life of your community to provide those facilities,” he said, noting that the MTA Events Center gets 170,000 visitors a year. “It gives people a reason to be in town, and shop in town. It’s an important aspect of the community.”

Some of those facilities will see additional upgrades in advance of the Arctic Winter Games, according to local tourism bureau chief Ressler. The Mat-Su Borough added much-need overflow parking and at the Government Peak Recreation Area, and big improvements to the stadium there. Smaller items, too, like a snowmachine and speed skating pads that were purchased for use at the Games will remain in the community after the Games are finished, he said. “Little things like that will be used by our schools, clubs, and organizations for a long time to come.”

Government Peak Recreation Area

A LASTING IMPRESSION

Community leaders welcome all to the games

BY MARK KELSEY | FOR THE MAT-SU VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN

The Arctic Winter Games is a biennial celebration of the circumpolar north. The event will bring thousands of young athletes, their families, and other visitors to the Mat-Su for the week of March 10-16 for a cultural exchange and competitions in 20 events. We asked community leaders the following question:

“What impressions of this community do you hope visitors to the Arctic Winter Games will take home with them?”

BRAD HANSON

City of Palmer director of community development

Just opening our doors and making people feel welcome. The biggest thing we can do as a community is to show that we did our part to make it special not only for participants, but also for spectators. We have a welcoming community. Being able to provide this event is really just a byproduct of a lot of people’s hard work. I hope that there’s a greater awareness of all the facilities and organizations here that helped make the event special.

DON DYER

Polaris Hatchery owner, former MSB director of economic development

The feeling that they got a really good value for being here, and that they were given a red carpet experience.

CHERYL METIVA

Arctic Winter Games sponsorship and community engagement manager

that sense of hospitality is the strongest thing to go away with.

JULIE BERBERICH

Owner, Pioneer Motel and Backcountry Bike and Ski

I hope the impression we leave with visitors to the 2024 Arctic Winter Games is that we are an engaged and active community with obvious pride in our town, our recreational opportunities, and our facilities. And, hopefully, it is obvious in the eagerness of our residents to share this special place with all who visit.

I hope visitors take away the sense of unity and community here and how so many have been committed to making the event special. Visitors will be welcomed, and

CASEY RESSLER

President and CEO, Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau

I hope visitors see that we’re inviting, we’re welcoming and we’re proud. Arctic Winter Games is an incredible opportunity to welcome the world to our backyard and share why it’s such a special place. I hope that people can see that far beyond the playing fields of the AWG, we’re a community that is a great place to visit, live and play.

ANJANETTE STEER

Arctic Winter Games director of care and comfort

Alaska is on the international event stage in March for the 2024 Arctic Winter Games, so rolling out the red carpet is of utmost importance. We have worked hard to make sure we have efficient transportation, safe and secure venues, top-notch medical services, comfortable lodging, and delicious food for the participants. It will be fun to share our community facilities and homegrown Alaska hospitality with them.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

AKtive Soles sponsoring snowshoe races during 2024 Arctic Winter Games

BY JACOB MANN | MAT-SU VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN

AKtive Soles Performance Footwear is sponsoring snowshoe races featured in the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games.

AKtive Soles owner Anne Thomas said that she’s thrilled to have the opportunity to support the Arctic Winter Games staff and volunteers’ efforts putting on this massive undertaking.

“It’s just a wonderful feeling to be a part of that,” Thomas said.

According to the Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games website, the snowshoe races taking place at the Kellogg Field School in Palmer consists of four events: long distance, short/middle distance, relay, and a combined competition with three shorter distances on a track. Top finishers in each division (men, women, junior, and juvenile) will receive golden ulus for their achievements.

Snowshoe teams are composed of two athletes and two coaches. Mat-Su Arctic Winter Games officials indicated that teams from Alaska, Yukon, Alberta North, Northwest Territories, and Nunavik/Quebec typically participate in snowshoe events.

AKtive Soles hosted a free snowshoe race at the Kellog Field School to help event organizers test the courses in March of 2023. The Valley-based business is known for hosting a variety of outdoor events and activities throughout the year such as the weekly Happy Run held in downtown Palmer, the Veins of Gold Mountain Run held at the Government Peak Recreation Area, and an annual multifaceted event series called Soles in the Backcountry. They’ve also held numerous snowshoe events over the years, making them ideal candidates for sponsoring the Arctic Winter Games snowshoe events hosted in the Valley.

Thomas said their community events and activities

promote positive physical and mental health while fostering genuine social connections.

“In so many ways it brings people together,” Thomas said. “I think our focus is helping people have an active lifestyle helps build deeper relationships with the people and land we live on.”

Thomas said that she’s looking forward to seeing the 2024 Arctic Winter Games unfold. She said the Valley’s wide reaches of outdoor assets and quality venues makes it in ideal area to host the games.

“I would say the Valley is a very good fit,” Thomas said. “It puts the Valley on the map nationally and internationally… It’s a wonderful cultural experience that helps us expand our world view.”

Thomas said that she’s confident the Valley’s athletes will do a great job representing their community during the Arctic Winter Games.

“I think it’s an amazing opportunity for individuals and teams to come together. I think they’re going to do really well,” Thomas said.

Thomas marvelled at the sheer amount of dedication Arctic Winter Games staff, volunteers, and community partners have displayed through their various efforts preparing for the games.

“It’s going to be success because they’ve done a lot of hard work,” Thomas said.

For more information about AKtive Soles Performance Footwear and to sign up for upcoming events, visit aktivesoles.com

For more information about the snowshoe races and other athletic events featured in the Mat-Su 2024 Arctic Winter Games, visit www.awg2024.org

AKtive Soles owner Anne Thomas

ECONOMIC ENGINE

Event could have $10 million impact

BY MARK KELSEY | FOR THE MAT-SU VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN

It’s been nearly three years since it was announced that the Mat-Su Borough had submitted the winning bid to host the upcoming Arctic Winter Games. Anticipation of the event is peaking now, not only for the competition and cultural exchange opportunities it brings, but also for the influx of outside money into the local economy.

At the time of the bid award, borough officials estimated that the total economic impact of that cash would be around $10 million, as visitor dollars get spent here and recirculate. That’s in line with the value of recent Games to their host communities.

The final number won’t be calculated until after the Games are finished, but the lasting impact on host communities over the history of the biennial event is undeniable.

The Arctic Winter Games are the brainstorm of former Alaska Gov. Wally Hickel and commissioners from Canada’s Yukon and Northwest Territories in 1969. Their vision for northern comradeship and competition has grown into a dynamic economic engine for the host community every two years.

Getting that engine to purr requires significant investment from the community, both in dollars and human resources. To that end, borough and city officials have worked to expand existing infrastructure, like parking at Government Peak Recreation Area, where some skiing events will be held. There has also been cooperation between local governments and Arctic Winter Games on the logistics of feeding and lodging the thousands of athletes, families, and other visitors who will be here March 10-16.

By all accounts, everyone is up to the task.

Longtime local businesswoman Cheryl Metiva is serving as AWG’s sponsorship and community engagement

manager. She said the outreach she has done has shown her that the enthusiasm for the Games is matched by the understanding of what it means to the Mat-Su community.

City officials in Wasilla, for example, reduced fees for renting space and ice time at the Menard Center for AWG events.

“Kudos to the city. They recognize that the economic impact is huge,” Metiva said. “All of the lodging, restaurants, fuel, and retail sales, everybody coming will be renting vehicles and buying stuff.”

The office of Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford and Wasilla Chamber of Commerce director Jessica Viera declined to comment.

In Palmer, the city’s director of community development, Brad Hanson, said city government and residents alike have supported efforts to make the Arctic Winter Games worthwhile not only for participants, but also for spectators. He said the city’s long history with events, starting with the Alaska State Fair and continuing to more contemporary celebrations like Colony Days and Colony Christmas, mean less obstacles for any other events.

“We have a welcoming community that understands what these events bring,” he said. “Events like these add to a vibrant community. They have the longer-term benefit of bringing visitors back to Palmer for other reasons.”

Pete Christopher, GM of the Mat-Su Miners and a member of the Palmer Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, agreed. He said events like Arctic Winter Games and even Miners games in the summer “bring people together and support our Alaskan culture.”

“We need to celebrate our state, culture, and all the people that make us amazing,” he said. “Events bring people into the Mat-Su and help support our local businesses.”

Tony and Julie Berberich have owned and operated both the Pioneer Motel and Backcountry Bike and Ski in Palmer for years. They have seen first-hand the effects of tourism and events in town.

“The hope is that visitors go into downtown Palmer and

go to restaurants and shops,” Julie Berberich said. “It’s good for the economy, and it’s a win-win for the Valley.”

She said there is “tremendous enthusiasm” around town for the upcoming Arctic Winter Games.

“Everyone is happy and proud that it is coming here,” she said. “This is the kind of thing that puts Palmer on the map.”

Anjanette Steer, a Mat-Su resident who is the Games’ director of care and comfort, also noted the great community support. One of the tasks on her plate was working with school district officials to secure lodging in six district schools for the 2,000 or so young athletes who will be in town for the competition.

“The Mat-Su School District has been hugely supportive of this effort, and Mat-Su Borough staff were instrumental in putting in for the Games’ bid in 2020,” she said.

She said she is looking forward to the event, and hopes residents will take any inconvenience in stride.

“It will be fun to share our community facilities and homegrown hospitality,” Steer said. “Locals will need to be patient with longer lines and wait times at the grocery store, coffee shops, and restaurants. Please welcome them, as they are leaving a huge economic impact in our community by being here for eight days.”

Supporting events is a no-brainer for the Mat-Su

Convention and Visitors Bureau. President and CEO Casey Ressler, who grew up in Wasilla, said events like the Arctic Winter Games are “extremely important” to the Mat-Su economy because of the money they bring in from outside the community.

“The Alaska State Fair, the Iditarod and Arctic Winter Games are well known, even on an international level, and they attract thousands of visitors to our community,” he said. “Those visitors spend money that helps support local jobs, local taxes and small businesses.”

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LOGISTICS

Games bringing thousands to the Mat-Su

BY MARK KELSEY | FOR THE MAT-SU VALLEY FRONTIERSMAN

Athletic competition, cultural exchange, and new meaning to the phrase “bedroom community” are all coming to the Mat-Su.

When the Arctic Winter Games roll into town March 10-16, the event will bring some 2,000 athletes from

around the circumpolar north to compete in 20 sports. Participants range in age from 11 to 18.

The Games are a biennial event hosted in a different Arctic region each time. This is the first time in 10 years that the event has been held in Alaska.

In addition to the participants, another 4,000 or so visitors will be in the area for the Games. Everyone involved will need a place to stay while they are here. The job of coordinating all that housing has fallen largely to staff and volunteers. Anjanette Steer is among them. The longtime Valley resident and businessperson is the Games’ director of care and comfort.

With the assistance of an enthusiastic and supportive community, she has tamed the seemingly beastly task of ordering beds for all those participants. Additionally, with the strong work of staffer Laura Wilson, more than 200 rooms needed to be secured for visitors, guests and staff.

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District helped by offering six local schools as dormitories for participants. That meant altering the typical March break schedule by adding two days at the beginning of the break to turn classrooms into dorm rooms, then another extra day at the end to turn sleeping rooms back into classrooms.

“The school district has been a wonderful partner to work with,” Steer said. “One of our largest hurdles has been calculating how many classrooms we need and how exactly to move out all the desks and chairs in a timely fashion. Our plan is now final, and we are looking

forward to these schools becoming ‘villages’ in March.”

To house participants’ families and other visitors to the Arctic Winter Games, staff turned to the area’s hotels. Chevy Sharlow, general manager at the Grandview Inn and Suites in Wasilla, said coordination with AWG for rooms started in the fall of 2023.

With 130 rooms, the Grandview is easily the largest hotel in the core area. Sharlow said the hotel is sold out for the week of the Games.

Same goes for the Best Western Lake Lucille, a little farther up the Parks Highway in Wasilla. GM Carolyn Albertsen said the hotel’s 54 rooms are also sold out. “We’re looking forward to the business,” she said.

Back at AWG headquarters in Palmer, Steer said the housing effort has been a labor of love. As a lifelong Alaskan, she said “giving back to my community is fun, and the least I can do.”

She also noted the support of other partner organizations as vital to the event’s success.

“The Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau has been hugely supportive of this effort, and the Mat-Su Borough has been involved since the bid for the Games was put forth in 2020,” she said. “I love working with all of our community partners. The volunteer turnout has been inspiring, too. It’s great to be part of this community-wide event.”