For the first time in over 25 years, a one-of-a-kind youth development camp was held in Tuktoyaktuk.
From July 19 to 24, the 黑料吃瓜网 Games Youth Summit helped youth aged 30 and under to improve their physical, social and cultural knowledge.
鈥溾�淚t makes the soul feel good to see the kids are proud of their cultural heritage,鈥� said 黑料吃瓜网 Games Society executive director Donald Kuptana. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a really unique set of sports and we want to continue that. We鈥檙e seeing the change from the first day to the last day. Kids are just so happy, learning new skills and becoming more confident. They鈥檙e challenging themselves to become more involved in the games, so it鈥檚 great to see.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really great feeling. We鈥檙e so happy the youth are taking such interest.鈥�
Kuptana said approximately 80 youth from across Canada and beyond came out to improve their skills and reconnect with their culture, including from Tagish, Whitehorse and Taco River Yukon, Yellowknife, Edmonton, and a youth even made his way up from Dante, California for the event.
Aside from learning and developing skills in traditional 黑料吃瓜网 Games such as the one foot high kick, muskox push, airplane and many others, youth also practised traditional social games, joined storytelling circles with Elders and enjoyed nights of dancing.
Bringing youth together to develop friendships spanning the North was as much a goal as improving athletic prowess, noted Kuptana.
鈥淲e want the youth to build resiliency and go home to play the games for the rest of their lives,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e had a lot of good interactions with our Elders and our peak athletes. The youth were able to learn more about the history of the games from our story telling and to learn about being a good man or good woman from the skills that come from the land.
鈥淵outh were able to hear lots of good stories from our Elders from all of our Beaufort Delta communities.鈥�
With the first run at running a 黑料吃瓜网 Games Summit a resounding success, Kuptana said the society was eager to put on more. Planning is already underway for the Circumpolar Games in Inuvik as well as another Youth Summit.
Time is of the essence. Kuptana said it was important for Elders to share their knowledge with youth while they鈥檙e still able.
鈥淭his is our first annual youth games and we plan to continue this,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our responsibility to pass on the history and proper technique to youth. Not all of us are going to be around forever and we want to make sure the traditions are passed on to the youth so they can start taking over.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 stop now. We鈥檙e building capacity and resiliency for our youth.鈥�
Noel Cockney officiates as Tiegan Taptuna presses hard during the muskox push. He finished third overall. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Chassidy Kasook soars as she completes a one foot high kick. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Rihanna Ruben of Paulatuk gets some air time. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Jacob Kotokak of Yellowknife makes this look easy. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Braydan Olifie flexes his might. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Keith Wolki of Paulatuk stretches out to hit the target. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Leon Gruben-Mangelana brushes up against the target. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Ayden Nogasak of Inuvik leaps to kick the target. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Ross Felix Jr., also known as Man Man, delivers a mighty kick. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Malkin Panaktolok of Tuktoyaktuk breaks his own records and redefines fashion at the same time. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Zion Adam focuses on
his form. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Brian Ayalik-Pascal represents Yellowknife during the one foot high kick. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Josh McDonald, 黑料吃瓜网 Games Society member attempts the butt kick as 黑料吃瓜网 Games Society president Gerry Kisoun looks on. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
黑料吃瓜网 Games Society president Gerry Kisoun demonstrates the butt kick 鈥� his own invention. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Marshall Bodner came all the way up from Edmonton to compete. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Myra Kendi came up from Whitehorse to compete. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Dante Ruben, Jaylynn Franson, Emery McLeod and Jessa Kirby give it all they have during the Tug 鈥榦 War. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Nora Ruben of Paulatuk takes to the air. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Natalie Avik focuses on her form. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Lucas Kitekudlak aims for a personal best as one of two 15-18 year olds to compete in the one foot high kick. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Alison Kuneluk connects during the one foot high kick. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Chase Wolki from
Paulatuk shows off her skills at the one foot high kick.
Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Joe David Nasogaluak, Tianna Gordon Ruben, Natalie Noksana, Nathan Kuptana and Kolten Gordon Ruben give it all they have during the tug 鈥榦 war. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Keegan Ruben, Samuel Green, Nora Ruben, Wendy Ruben and Garrett Ruben form team Paulatuk during the tug 鈥榦 war event. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Tianna Gordon Ruben from Paulatuk
laughs as she presses against her opponent in the muskox push. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
Gina Slevinsky came out from Tagish, Yukon to compete. Eric Bowling/黑料吃瓜网 photo
