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World Eskimo Indian Olympics

Native American multi-sport event From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (abbreviated: WEIO, formerly the World Eskimo Olympics) is an American annual national multi-sport event held over a four-day period beginning the third Wednesday of each July, designed to preserve cultural practices and traditional (survival) skills essential to life in circumpolar areas of the world. These games are only between Native Americans in the United States and allow no participants from other nations.

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Sport and Culture Events

The WEIO features games or sports rooted in ancestral hunting and survival techniques employed by the Inuit, Iñupiat, Yupik, and other Native Americans in USA, as well as dance, storytelling competitions, and an annual cultural pageant, called Miss WEIO, that focuses on cultural knowledge.

History

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WEIO began in 1961 as the World Eskimo Olympics and was initially held on the banks of the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska,[1] in conjunction with the Golden Days celebration festivities. The event was sponsored by the City of Fairbanks, through the city's Chamber of Commerce.[2]

City in first games:

  1. Utqiagvik
  2. Unalakleet
  3. Tanana
  4. Fort Yukon
  5. Noorvik
  6. Nome

In 1970, sponsorship of the event was transferred to the statewide newspaper Tundra Times and several revisions were made. This includes the name change – which inserted "Indian" to better reflect the ethnicity of the participants – and the introduction of events for women. The first decade of the events featured male-only participants; eventually, the number of events with women competing increased.[3] Women now participate in some of the more arduous events, including ear pulls and high kicks.

Six years later, WEIO reorganized as a 501(c) non-profit organization, which took over sponsorship from the newspaper, and has been responsible for plans, preparations, and stagings related to the event.

After four and a half decades in Fairbanks, the games were relocated to Anchorage, Alaska in 2007 following a successful bid to host the event.[4] WEIO board members were concerned that Fairbanks officials were becoming complacent,[5] and elected to examine other venues.

The organization's general assembly voted to have the games held at the new location earlier that spring.[6]

The event in Anchorage proved to be too costly and the games have not returned since. Fairbanks is recognized as WEIO's permanent home.

In 2018, WEIO introduced a new logo designed by Yup'ik artist Aassanaaq Ossie Kairaiuak, who is better known as a member of the band Pamyua. The new design was chosen because it better exemplifies the cultural roots of the organization. It is now included on WEIO's website, weio.org and Facebook page.

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Games

The 2020 WEIO event was canceled due the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 (60th Anniversary) WEIO Games were scheduled for July 21–24, 2021 at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the opening ceremonies featuring PBS Kids character Molly of Denali.[7][8]

  1. 1961
  2. 1962
  3. 1963
  4. 1964
  5. 1965
  6. 1966
  7. 1967
  8. 1968
  9. 1969
  10. 1970
  11. 1971
  12. 1972
  13. 1973
  14. 1974
  15. 1975
  16. 1976
  17. 1977
  18. 1978
  19. 1979
  20. 1980
  21. 1981
  22. 1982
  23. 1983
  24. 1984
  25. 1985
  26. 1986
  27. 1987
  28. 1988
  29. 1989
  30. 1990
  31. 1991
  32. 1992
  33. 1993
  34. 1994
  35. 1995
  36. 1996
  37. 1997
  38. 1998
  39. 1999
  40. 2000
  41. 2001
  42. 2002
  43. 2003
  44. 2004
  45. 2005
  46. 2006
  47. 2007
  48. 2008
  49. 2009
  50. 2010
  51. 2011
  52. 2012
  53. 2013
  54. 2014
  55. 2015
  56. 2016
  57. 2017
  58. 2018
  59. 2019
  60. 2021
  61. 2022
  62. 2023
  63. 2024
  • 2020 was cancelled.

Results

Source:[9]

Miss WEIO

Miss WEIO:[10][11]

WEIO Games

2023:[12]

2022:[13]

2021:[14]

2019:[15]

2018:[16]

2017:[17]

Records

Native Games World Records:[18][19]

Events

Thumb
Two foot high kick, 2009.
Thumb
Blanket toss, 2011.

Events played at the WEIO are either traditional or everyday tasks unique to Eskimo or northern native culture:[20]

  1. Knuckle hop or seal hop
  2. Four man carry
  3. Ear weight
  4. Ear pull
  5. Drop the bomb
  6. One foot high kick and akratcheak (two foot High kick)
  7. One hand reach
  8. Alaskan High kick
  9. Kneel jump
  10. Indian stick pull
  11. Eskimo stick pull (tug of war)
  12. Toe kick
  13. Arm pull
  14. Nalukataq (blanket toss)
  15. Seal skinning
  16. Maktak eating
  17. Greased pole walk
  18. Bench reach
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See also

References

External links

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