Inuvialuit Piuyausiat – 2023 Official Program

Aa r igaa!

Quyanainni qaigapsi, welcome, to Inuvialuit Piuyausiat—the Northern Games Youth Event in Tuktuuyaqtuuq. The Northern Games Society (NGS) has been actively fundraising for this event over the last year. We have been fortunate to be awarded with an Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) in February 2023 to provide base funding to hold these Games.

Quyanainni to all Northern Games Society members, and Executive Director Donald Kuptana, the Hamlet of Tuktuuyaqtuuq, Mayor Erwin Elias, Hamlet Council and staff, all of our great volunteers, as well as all participants, athletes, and coaches. Without you, this event wouldn’t happen. Also, quyanainni to Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC) for their Accounting and organizational assistance. We appreciate the support of all our funders who have consistently supported the Games for many years.

My hope is that we have a great event that youth will remember for the rest of their lives and become the next leaders of the Northern Games—Inuvialuit Piuyausiat.

Gerry Kisoun PRESIDENT, NORTHERN GAMES SOCIETY (NGS)

Aqana!

We are so happy to welcome you all to Tuktuuyaqtuuq—the land of the pingos and the road to the Arctic Ocean! We hope you have a great week participating in Northern Youth Games: Inuvialuit Piuyausiat (which means “The Real Peoples’ Games”).

These Inuvialuit Games that our ancestors have passed down to us are so important. It now your responsibility to continue that same cultural tradition. This was a time when Inuvialuit would gather to tell stories and Drum Dance with family they had not seen for long periods of time. It was a time for families to celebrate and have friendly competition amongst each other while learning new skills.

This week, you —the athletes and participants—will showcase many of the Cultural Northern Games, Inuvialuit Drum Dancing, and other traditional skills like goose plucking and seal skinning. Be safe and respectful. Once again, we welcome you to our community.

Quyanainni,

Erwin Elias

In the spirit of the Northern Games and our Elders that walked before us, we promise to compete with the best of intentions and sportsmanship and to help others that need the support. We agree to respect and follow the rules created by the Founders of the Northern Games.

PARTICIPANTS’ OATH

This event is for the development of Beaufort Delta Youth, first and foremost. All sport events in the schedule are intended for local youth athletes aged 10-30.

OneHand Reach

Wednesday

Arrival of all Dignitaries, Youth, Good Woman and Good Man, Drum Dancers and Elders from Communities (Charters and Highway).

Game Categories: Ages 10-14 / 15-18 / 19-30

Male / Female / All

Ribbon ceremony after each event

, All events will be at the Northern Games (Baseball) Field. If weather conditions change, events will be moved inside to Kitti Hall.

10:00 AM , Kitti Hall 12:00 NOON , Baseball Field

1:00 PM , Baseball Field

TEAM REGISTRATION (UNTIL 3:00 PM)

Registration of all participants for events

All participants will receive food tickets at Kitti Hall

LUNCH

OPENING CEREMONIES

Marshalling of Community Teams with Banners Drum Dance Performance with Saliqmiut Drum Dance Group, and Blanket Toss

2:00 PM , Baseball Field

2:30 PM , Baseball Field 5:00 PM , Baseball Field

PM

COACHES MEETING & ATHLETES WARM UP

CANADA’S SPORTS HALL OF FAME

RECOGNITION OF EDWARD LENNIE ORDER OF SPORT CLASS OF 2022

Seal Skinning

Game Categories:

Ages 10-14 / 15-18 / 19-30

Male / Female / All

Ribbon ceremony after each event

8:00 AM

BREAKFAST

, All events will be at the Northern Games (Baseball) Field. If weather conditions change, events will be moved inside to Kitti Hall.

5:00 PM , Baseball Field

5:30 PM

7:30 PM , Baseball Field

LUNCH

ALL

TEAM CANOE RACES 19-30 ONLY

PAIR, 15-18 with 19-30

DINNER

ALL STORYTELLING ALL

FEMALE

TEAM SEAL SKINNING & STRETCHING ALL

NORTHERN GAMES FUNDRAISING BINGO

10:30 PM , Baseball Field

9:30 PM , Baseball Field TRADITIONAL NORTHERN GAMES DEMOS (P.16) & BLANKET TOSS

DRUM DANCE, OLD-TIME DANCE & JIGGING

TEAM TEA BOILING & BANNOCK MAKING

KNEEL JUMP

TWO-FOOT HIGH KICK

Airplane

Game Categories: Ages 10-14 / 15-18 / 19-30

Male / Female / All

Ribbon ceremony after each event

, All events will be at the Northern Games (Baseball) Field. If weather conditions change, events will be moved inside to Kitti Hall.

9:30 PM

TRADITIONAL NORTHERN GAMES DEMOS (P.16) & BLANKET TOSS 10:30 PM , Baseball Field

TRADITIONAL DRESS, DRUM DANCE & OLD TIME DANCE

Goose Plucking

Saturday

Game Categories:

Ages 10-14 / 15-18 / 19-30

Male / Female / All

Ribbon ceremony after each event

, All events will be at the Northern Games (Baseball) Field. If weather conditions change, events will be moved inside to Kitti Hall.

NORTHERN GAMES FUNDRAISING BINGO 6:30 PM

TRADITIONAL NORTHERN GAMES DEMOS (P.16) & BLANKET TOSS 10:30 PM , Baseball Field

9:30 PM , Baseball Field

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES: ERWIN ELIAS & FRIENDS & OLD TIME DANCE

Swing Kick

Sunday July 23

Game Categories:

Ages 10-14 / 15-18 / 19-30

Male / Female / All

Ribbon ceremony after each event

BREAKFAST 7:00 AM , Kitti Hall

9:30 AM , Baseball Field

SWING KICK FEMALE

12:00 NOON , Baseball Field 1:00 PM , Baseball Field 5:00 PM , Baseball Field

6:30 PM , Baseball Field

LUNCH

, All events will be at the Northern Games (Baseball) Field. If weather conditions change, events will be moved inside to Kitti Hall.

TEAM TEA BOILING & BANNOCK MAKING YOUTH + ELDER

DINNER

TEAM TUG OF WAR ALL BLANKET TOSS 10-14 ONLY

FISH CUTTING 10-14 ONLY

TEAM BEAVER SKINNING & STRETCHING ALL

KNUCKLE HOP MALE

MAKTAK EATING ALL

TRADITIONAL NORTHERN GAMES DEMOS (P.16) & BLANKET TOSS 10:30 PM , Baseball Field

9:30 PM , Baseball Field

MUSICAL PERFORMANCES: ERWIN ELIAS & FRIENDS & TALENT SHOW

Blanket Toss

24

Game Categories:

Ages 10-14 / 15-18 / 19-30

Male / Female / All Ribbon ceremony after each event

, All events will be at the Northern Games (Baseball) Field. If weather conditions change, events will be moved inside to Kitti Hall.

BREAKFAST 7:00 AM , Kitti Hall 10:00 AM , Baseball Field

BLANKET TOSS ALL 10:30 AM , Baseball Field

CLOSING CEREMONIES & AWARDS

Marshalling of Community Teams with Banners Medal Awards & Closing Remarks

1:00 PM , All Venues

1:00 PM

MOST INSPIRATIONAL ATHLETE IN ALL CATEGORIES

CLEAN-UP OF NORTHERN GAMES SITE AND ACCOMMODATION VENUES

DEPARTURE OF ALL NORTHERN GAMES PARTICIPANTS

NELLIE COURNOYEA AWARD EDWARD LENNIE AWARD

TRADITIONAL NORTHERN GAMES DEMONSTRATIONS

Thursday, June 20 / Friday, June 21 / Saturday, June 22 / Sunday, June 23 at 9:30pm Rope Games, Caribou Skipping, Ear Weight Lift, Ear Pull, Stick Pull, Putaroon, Belt Hop, Four Men Carry, Animal Muk, Team Animal Muk, Bum Hop, Rope Twist, Stick Twist, Walrus Pull, Wrist Hang, Toe Hang, Manaq, Rope Skipping, Harpoon Throw, Low Kick, and more.

History of Traditional Northern Games History of Traditional Northern Games History of Traditional Northern Games

Words by Donald Kuptana Jr.

Tea Boiling

The Northern Games were played to help Inuvialuit survive in the harsh weather and land conditions. The pain and resistance games mimicked the weather to help deal with cold and freezing weather conditions from snow and winds. You can imagine -40°C to -50°C, with 30 to 50 km-per-hour winds, while out hunting or travelling from camp to camp with all family members.

Playing the Northern Games can save your life at some point in your life. Inuvialuit followed the food source, either on land or on the ocean. Survival meant harvesting the animals from hunting. Seal, caribou, and muskox to name a few—these animals provided the necessities of food, clothing, fuel, and materials for making tools. The strength and endurance games helped our Inuvialuit youth build strength and endurance through the games. This helped with long distance walking from camp to camp, or carrying animals that they harvested from the land such as caribou, muskox, and beluga whales.

The agility games helped youth prepare for them to have successful hunts to learn patience and different hunting skills such as sneaking up to animals, so they can feed the families. These games were introduced many generations ago before nomadic family groups started to settle into villages and communities. Large family groups could only bring what they could carry. Traditional Games prepared the families for the hard life on the land. The games were used to develop agility, strength, endurance, and resistance to pain. The games were very important as they prepared our children for life on the land and helped them develop skills for successful hunts.

The Northern Games were also played at gatherings as a place to meet old friends, pass on news, tell stories, drum dance, on top of playing the games. Families would gather while visiting on their travels to their next camp. They came from great distances over what is now called the Circumpolar Region, such as Nunavut, Alaska, Greenland and Russia. Many of these games require little organization and can be played almost anywhere—out on the land around a camp area, or in an iglu.

Traditional Northern Games strengthened families and communities. It did not matter if you were from another family or another community. Northern Games represented friendly competition. Elders would always gather the participants and tell them the importance of trusting and helping each other. In the spirit of Inuvialuit Traditional Northern Games, it did not matter how high you kicked or how strong you were. These games were fun and kept everyone physically active to survive on the land. Families would assist by encouraging and clapping to boost the individual’s confidence.

In the spirit of Inuvialuit Traditional Northern Games, it did not matter how high you kicked or how strong you were. These games were fun and kept everyone physically active to survive on the land.

One-Foot High Kick

The One-Foot-High Kick is a game of agility. It is a game that develops an individual’s strength, quickness, and body control. This kicking game is considered one of the most exciting Northern Games events.

To begin, the participant has three options of how they wish to approach and kick the seal target. They can do a standstill, walk, or run approach to the seal target. Proper technique involves using your arms for momentum and legs to jump straight up. For good balance, feet should be shoulder width apart. To start, the participant will bend their knees and go down to a sitting position, with both arms swinging behind and above the back. From that point the participant will swing both arms forward and straight up above the head while pushing off both feet using their leg and calf strength. The participant will jump pushing off both feet, bring the knees together to their chest. The participant, while in the air, will do a kicking motion with their dominant foot pointed forward to kick the seal target. After kicking the seal target, the participant will use their arm momentum, bending their knee and bouncing on the balls of their toes to balance and gain control. There are no differences in the techniques between males or females.

To show balance and control, the participant must hold their stance on that kicking foot for a few seconds or bounce a few times for the attempt to be considered a success. Once all participants kick the set height, the seal target will be raised higher and higher to continue the competition. Participants are given three attempts to kick the seal target.

Our Elders always encouraged friendly competition and fair play amongst all participants. So, when a participant was struggling in kicking the seal target, their opponents would support one another. The audience would also clap in unison and cheer on the participants attempting their kicks. Ultimately, whoever kicked the highest with proper technique would be declared the winner.

These Northern Games were played by all to develop skills to deal with the different types of land conditions Inuvialuit had to face during their hunting seasons. Hunters had to be quiet, fast, and agile to have successful hunts to provide for their families.

For example, sneaking up on animals required the hunters to be quick on their feet making as little noise as possible. The Northern Games participants would also challenge each other to see who could land the quietest while landing on their kicking foot.

The first Northern Games record for the One-Foot-High Kick was 7’11”. Currently, the Canadian record for males is 9’2” held by Mervin Jacobson from Tuktuuyaqtuuq, NT. The open men’s world record is 9’9” held by Tim Fields from Anchorage, Alaska. For females, the world record is 7’10” held by Melanie Curtis from Grande Prairie, Alberta.

The Arm Pull is a game of strength and endurance.

To start, participants will be pulling with their right arms first. They will be sitting on the floor chest-to-chest, about shoulder to elbow distance, from each other. To begin, the official will assist in positioning the participants. Both participants will go down to the sitting position. They will each position themselves about shoulder to elbow from each other. They will position their right knee bent with foot flat to the floor and position their left leg stretched out flat to the floor. Participants will place their right leg over the opponents left leg. Each participant will grab the right ankle; from that point each participant will extend out their right arm and lock evenly at the elbow.

From this point, the official will ensure participants’ backs are straight and parallel with each other and elbows are locked above the knees and centered. The official will have the participants tighten up their

Arm Pull

pull and on signal, begin pulling without a jerking motion. Both partici pants pull without stopping. The objective is to try and pull the other opponent over, or until the opponent’s hand touches the chest of the participant pulling.

If the participant’s hand touches the floor or slips off the opponent’s ankle, or if the opponent turns sideways to touch the floor, they will have to start over. This is a best of three attempts.

Hunters needed to have strong upper body strength for hunting animals so they could pull a seal out of the ocean and back to the camp during the winter. In the fall, they would have to carry caribou back to the camp. This game helped build strength to endure carrying the weight for long distances. Sometimes, the animals would weigh up to 100 pounds harvested and many hunters were out hunting alone.

FEMALE FRIDAY, JULY 21 10:30 AM

MALE SATURDAY, JULY 22 9:30 AM

The Swing Kick is a game of agility.

It is a game that develops an individual’s strength, quickness, and body control. To showcase this strength of the core, Elders introduced this game. The objective of this game is to position your body in between your arms while sitting on the floor. The participant balances only on their hands with a belt looped around their knees and neck. The participant swings their body back and forth like a pendulum for height to hit a seal target with both feet positioned together.

To start, the participant will be sitting on the floor with both knees bent, positioned together with feet flat on the floor. A belt will be looped around both knees and placed around their neck. The distance the belt should be from face to knees should be around 3” apart or a fist width from the face to knee.

Both hands are placed flat on the floor at each side of hips, legs stretched out, with the belt looped around the knees and neck. The participant will lift themself off the floor balancing their body, so they has a good center of balance with legs stretched out with feet together, toes pointed forward. The participant will start to swing back and forth to hit the seal target with both feet. Once the participant has hit the seal target, they will maintain balance with only their hands touching the floor, or they can have their hands and feet touching the floor for a few seconds before letting go. Each participant will have three attempts to hit the target.

This game helped Inuvialuit hunters develop good balance using core body strength. Everyone had different strengths and abilities; this was a time for young hunters to share and help each other learn different techniques and challenge each other. This was an entertaining game as each individual used different body movements to balance themselves. It is a fun activity to play and for spectators to watch.

Head Pull

The Head Pull is a game of strength and endurance. These games were played by everyone to build endurance to handle long distance travel in the fall and winter.

To start, participants lie face down on the floor facing each other with elbow to hands flat on floor in front of their bodies. The participants’ heads are about two feet apart. A leather loop or belt is placed around the back of head and above the ears. A center line is drawn between the two participants, equally distanced from their start line.

When the belt is properly positioned around both participants’ heads, the official will tell the participants to lift themselves off the floor with

ALL SATURDAY, JULY 22 9:30 AM

only their hands and feet touching the floor. The official will signal the participant to slowly tighten up by pulling the belt without using a jerking motion. The participants will use their hands to brace the floor in front of their body. Once the belt is level, the official will then signal participants to pull. The objective of this game is to pull the opposing participant past the center line. Best out of three pulls wins. If the belt slips off of the opponent’s head, it counts as a win; when the opponent is pulled to the center line, it is also a win. The belt must stay above the ears at all times.

Families traveling long distances could only carry the essential equipment and tools for survival. These items included caribou skins and hunting tools. Using a looped belt about 36 inches (or longer) around their forehead was another way to carry extra gear on their journey.

The Two-Foot-High Kick is a game of agility.

It is a game that develops an individual’s strength, quickness, and body control. This kicking game is considered one of the most difficult and exciting Inuvialuit traditional events.

To begin, the participant has three options of how they wish to approach and kick the seal target. They can do a standstill, walk, or run approach to the seal target. Proper technique involves using your arms for momentum and legs to jump straight up. For good balance, feet should be shoulder width apart. To start, the participant will bend their knees and go down to a sitting position, with both arms swinging behind and above the back. From that point, the participant will swing both arms forward and straight up above the head while pushing off both feet using their leg and calf strength. The participant will jump pushing off both feet, bringing both knees together to their chest. The participant, while in the air, will do a kicking motion with both feet pointed forward to kick the seal target. After kicking the seal target, the participant will use their arm momentum, bending their knee and bouncing on the balls of their toes to balance and gain control. There are no differences in the techniques between males or females.

To show balance and control, the participant must hold their stance on both feet together for a few seconds, or bounce a few times, for the attempt to be considered a success. Once all participants kick the set height, the seal target will be raised higher and higher to continue the competition. Ultimately, whoever kicks the highest with proper technique would be declared the winner. Participants are given three attempts to kick the seal target.

These games helped young hunters deal with the different types of land conditions during the hunting seasons throughout the year. Hunters had to be quiet, fast, and agile to have successful hunts to provide for their families. For example, sneaking up on animals required the hunters to be quick on their feet, making as little noise as possible. The participants would also challenge each other to see who could land the quietest or kick the highest.

For males, the Canadian record for the Two-Foot-High Kick is 8’1” held by Sean Nipisar from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. The world record is 8’8” held by Brian Randazzo from Fairbanks, Alaska. For females, the record is 6’7” held by Autumn Ridley from Anchorage, Alaska.

Two-Foot High Kick

Alaskan High

The Alaskan High Kick is a game of agility. This game was introduced to by families traveling from Alaska. Our Inuvialuit ancestors adopted this game and made it their own. This kicking game is considered one of the most technical body movements of the Northern Games events. Individuals who had strong core bodies showcased this game with elegance and style.

To start, the participant is in the sitting position on the floor. Their right leg is stretched out with kicking foot positioned below the seal target. The left hand is placed as close as possible behind their back for support. Once the person has found their target distance, they will bend their right knee with right foot flat on floor. The participant will grab the top part of the left foot with their right hand.

From this ready position, the participant will all in one motion lift their body and hip as high off the floor as possible, at the same time pulling up their non-kicking foot up and towards the seal target. The right kicking foot will be the last part of the action, pushing off the floor with a lot of energy to kick the seal target. Once the participant has kicked the seal target, they will land on their kicking foot with only the right foot and left hand touching the floor. To show balance and control, they must bounce a few times or hold for a few seconds before letting go.

A participant is allowed three attempts for the Alaskan High Kick. Once everyone has kicked the seal target, it will be raised higher

Alaskan

Kick

and higher until there is only one remaining competitor to be declared the winner. As the seal target gets higher, the individual will position themself closer beneath the seal target.

The Alaskan High Kick was introduced to the Inuvialuit in the Western Arctic from their Iñupiat family members travelling from Alaska. They would host social gatherings to greet family members they had not seen for years.

This was a time for our Elders from Alaska to boast about their young hunters. Inuit who lived off the land were very strong physical, mentally, and spiritually from hunting and moving from camp to camp throughout the year.

The Alaskan High Kick showcased an individual’s strength. Elders would tell the young hunters to hit the seal target as slow as possible, which was meant to work on their core strength. Today, practicing for the Alaskan High Kick, our instructors get the participants to kick the seal target without holding their non-kicking foot. The participant positions themself under the seal target. The height is about a foot and a half above their head. This is a way to improve lifting their bodies higher off the floor for proper technique.

For males, the Canadian record is 7’4” held by Matthew Anikina from Tuktuuyaqtuuq, NT. The world record is 8’0” held by Elijah Cabinboy from Anchorage, Alaska. The female record is at 6’11”, held by Autumn Ridley from Anchorage, Alaska.

KNEEL JUMP

MUSKOX PUSH

BLANKET TOSS

MUSKRAT SKINNING

ONE-FOOT HIGH KICK

ONE-HAND REACH

SWING KICK

SEAL SKINNING

STORYTELLING

TEA BOILING

& BANNOCK MAKING

TUG OF WAR

TWO-FOOT HIGH KICK

Publisher: Inuvialuit Communications Society (ICS)

Guest Editors: Donald & Lucy Kuptana

Project Manager: Tamara Voudrach/ICS

Designer & Editor: Jason Lau/Tusaayaksat

Illustrators: Kyle Natkusiak Aleekuk & Panigaq (Lexis McDonald)

Freelance Contributor: Kata Kuhnert

Office Administrator: Roseanne Rogers/ICS

Photographs used from Northern Games Society Archives, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (Elizabeth Kolb), and Tusaayaksat/ICS Archives

Credits Event Sponsors

This program was published by the Inuvialuit Communications Society (ICS) for the Northern Games Society (NGS) in July 2023, with layout, design, and editing by Tusaayaksat Magazine