Seconds,

“Everyone was so happy when Noel won!” said Bryon Okeena. He loved the opening ceremony, where there were cultural performances and the introduction of each team. He said, “It gave me goose bumps when everyone sang in Inuvialuktun!” He “did get pretty nervous on some of [his] events,” and although he did not win any ulus this time, he’s “working towards next year!”

By Noel Cockney

My Unforgettable Memory

During the winter season of 2003/2004 I tried out for the Arctic Winter Games in snowshoe biathlon. I made it to the territorials in Fort. Smith. I was the youngest person to try out that year. I did very well, considering that I have only been in the sport for a couple of months. I shocked the other competitors with my running ability and my short work with the biathlon rifle. I came in third in the 5 km individual race, and fifth in the 3 km sprint race. I waited with anticipation and an abundance of nerves for the final results; which decides the NWT biathlon team for the 2004 Arctic Winter Games (by the way, there are only three boys and three girls picked for the team). There I am, in fourth place, only 4 seconds behind the person in third place. I beat myself up then, knowing that I was only 4 seconds away from representing the NWT at the Arctic Winter Games.

During the next two years, I trained hard, and I mean hard, for the next upcoming Arctic Winter Games, and I made it! Happiness filled my body. I jumped around to finally get the chance to represent the NWT at the games. The results of my hard work and determination is bringing home three ulus (medals), two gold and one silver.

The AWG was loads of fun and excitement. I was so excited after my first race, because after I was done, I knew that I did really good and got a medal. And after that, everything else just fell into place and I won two other races!!

But the relay race was THE race of my life!!! I was the anchor for our team, and we were about 2 minutes and 30 seconds behind when I picked it up, and I finished about 15 seconds behind Alaska. We ended up winning, the other team’s anchor had left shells in the shooting range, and for every shell left behind, two minutes are added to the total time!!

This taught me so much about how anything can happen at a snap of the fingers. The 4-second time difference on my first try made me train ever so hard to succeed at the Arctic Winter Games. This shows that even if you fail at something, keep on going; it will bring a good outcome in the future. Well, this was my “Unforgettable Memory”, now what is yours?

Don Burnstick does a plenary speech full of jokes but deep in meaning.

Don’s Speech

COMEDIAN DON BURNSTICK SET THE TONE FOR THE DAY WITH HIS PLENARY SPEECH, HE WAS IMMENSELY POPULAR WITH THE YOUTH, AND MADE A THOUGHT PROVOKING SPEECH ABOUT MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG, BUT PUNCTUATED IT WITH PLENTY OF HUMOR.

HE TOLD THE YOUTH THAT HE HAD NOTICED HOW HIP HOP TRENDS TODAY HAVE POPULARIZED EXPLICIT LANGUAGE, DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND SEX SO MOST TEENAGERS THINK TO BE “COOL” THEY HAVE TO DO ALL OF THE ABOVE. “IʼVE NEVER SEEN A BLACK PERSON TRYING TO BE A NATIVE PERSON! HAVE YOU SEEN A BLACK PERSON GO AHEYA AHEYA?” HE SAID, DOING SOME NATIVE DANCING STEPS WHILE USING A “HOMIE” SWAGGER. “I SEE KIDS WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN TO HERE,” HE SAID, INDICATING A LINE WAY BELOW THE WAIST, AND I TELL THEM “HEY YOU ARE NOT FROM BROOKLYN, YOU ARE FROM FORT MACPHERSON!”