By Jonson Kuhn
Juneau Empire
Colton Paul, a senior at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka, said the Native Youth Olympics is the one sport he competes in, but this year marked his first time traveling to Juneau for the annual Traditional Games.
The games are a program featuring events based on the hunting and survival skills of the Indigenous peoples of Alaska and the Arctic.
Paul’s specialty event is the one-foot high kick, for which he’s completed a best height of 110 inches. Paul was named one of this year’s overall athletes with a total of 40 points, as well as set several Traditional Games records for such events as the scissor broad jump, kneel jump, one-foot high kick, two-foot high kick and the Alaskan high kick.
“I’ve always competed in little tournaments back home,” Paul said. “I went to a statewide tournament last year, World Eskimo Indian Olympics, Arctic Winter games just two months ago, but this is my first Traditional Games and it feels great to be here; I’ve never experienced anything quite like this. I think it’s very diverse, lots of sportsmanship. I just think it’s great that everyone helps each other; it just means a lot to be here because the Native Youth Olympics is the only sport I’ve always competed in, so I really take this sport to heart.”
The sixth annual Traditional Games officially got underway at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday and continued on into Sunday starting at 9 a.m. and wrapping up at 4:30 p.m.
Saturday’s evening events started off with a performance from the Yees Ku Oo Dancers led by Nancy Barnes. After the dance performance was the opening ceremony and parade of athletes, followed by nalukataq (blanket toss) and the one-foot high kick finals and one-foot high kick awards. Lastly, the evening closed out with the Wrist Carry Finals (high school)/Airplane (open) and the awards for both games, as well.
The Traditional Games and Juneau’s NYO team are a community collaboration made possible by Sealaska Heritage, Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Sealaska, University of Alaska Southeast, Select Physical Therapy, Juneau School District and Trickster Co.
The games include teams competing for over two days in various events that test skills of strength, agility, balance, endurance and focus, all based on the hunting and survival skills of Indigenous peoples of Alaska and the Arctic that takes place in Juneau.
Traditional Games coach Kyle Kaayák’w Worl said this year’s games set a new record for overall participation, with over 200 athletes competing. Worl said in the immediate wake of COVID-19, the games took a downturn in participation, however, attendance started to improve last year and has only continued to increase, putting the games on a “good trajectory.”
“It’s exciting, it’s been a long time coming. It’s been a lot of planning to make this happen and so far it’s been a success. We’ve had a record number of athletes. We’ve had teams from several new locations with this being their first time coming to Juneau. We have a new award for college teams. We have a new event we’re doing with archery. So given everything that we’ve put into it, it’s doing good. I’m happy about it so far.”
Local teams include Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, Thunder Mountain High School, Yakoosgé Daakahídi High School, Dzantik’i Héeni Middle School and Floyd Dryden Middle School. Visiting teams consist of Hoonah, Sitka, Ketchikan, Petersburg, Metlakatla, Southeast Island School District, Anchorage, Service High School, Fairbanks, Unalakleet, the Homer Halibuts, Chickaloon, Qutekcak Native Tribe of Seward, Kenai, PNW All Nations, Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Sante Fe Indian School, Whitehorse and from Canada’s Northwest Territories, Yellowknife.
The full list of results can be found online at https://traditionalgames.sealaskaheritage.org/.
Contact reporter Jonson Kuhn at jonson.kuhn@juneauempire.com.
A record-breaking number of athletes from local and visiting teams gather in the gymnasium at Thunder Mountain High School on Saturday to take part in this year’s annual Traditional Games. (Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire)
