Nunavut hits the podium 51 times

Twelve golds, 15 silvers and 24 bronze ulus at 2023 Arctic Winter Games

By Stewart Burnett

Team Nunavut’s badminton, speed skating and wrestling athletes led the way for gold ulus in the 2023 Arctic Winter Games.

“I had tremendous fun,” said Mark Eetuk, youth ambassador for Nunavut, on the final day of the event. “Traded a lot of pins.”

His highlight from the week was watching the U19 men’s hockey team win gold.

Makayla Kaludjak, who attended for futsal, agreed, adding that she did her part cheering in the stands.

“People were even getting annoyed,” she laughed.

Iqaluit’s Akutaq Williamson Bathory earned three gold ulus alone for her work in the 500m, 77m and 1,500m short track speed skating races.

Meliya Allain earned a gold in speed skating as well in the junior girls category for 500m.

Lloyd Willie brought home gold in Dene games snow snake, while the U19 men’s hockey team won gold over Alaska, a first for the territory.

In badminton, Team Nunavut took home three golds, including one from Sanikiluaq’s Davidee Kudluarok in singles play.

Jonah Kunilusie earned two wrestling gold medals while Jusipi Dimitruk picked one of his own.

Nunavut’s table tennis contingent came home with 12 medals between them, while the Dene games squad earned eight. The junior boys hockey team earned bronze.

Kaludjak didn’t earn a medal with her futsal team, but she was happy to score a goal.

“That goal was for my dad,” she said. The Rankin Inlet youth is sad she’s aging out of the Games.

“I wish I was able to not grow out of Arctic Winter Games, because it’s so much fun,” she said. “I’m going to keep this memory for the rest of my life.

Jeff Seeteenak, assistant chef de mission for Team Nunavut, said there were many highlights for the territory at these Games.

“They’re ending with a bang for our team,” he said as luggage was dropped off for Team Nunavut’s charters home Saturday, Feb. 4. “I think overall things are going very well for Team Nunavut.”

He congratulated the men’s hockey for their gold medal, along with badminton players and speed skaters raking in ulus of their own.

“This is their Games,” said Seeteenak about how Nunavummiut youth enjoyed the experience. “This is what they’re passionate about.”

And the next ones in Alaska are right around the corner, as the host organization plays catch-up after missing the 2020 and 2022 Games due to the pandemic.

“Kids and coaches, keep working hard and let’s go,” said Seeteenak.