2018 WEIO Celebration

One Hand Reach champion in the ladies division is Raven Morgan of Fairbanks. Her winning height was 54". Below is Isaiah Waghiyi of Savoonga competing in the Knuckle Hop.

by K.J. Lincoln

The 2018 World Eskimo Indian Olympics was an amazing weekend of athletic performances, native cultural dances, Alaskan arts and crafts, traditional regalia, and honoring of our elders.

The festival began last Wednesday with opening events including the Race of the Torch. The weather was very hot during the 5K, reaching into the 70s.
Vendors showcased their many arts and crafts at the craft section. There were fur clothing items, beaded and ivory jewelry, paintings, hides and skins, craft supplies, WEIO gear, jams and jellies, homemade salves and lotions, and many interesting trinkets.
Volunteers and WEIO staff kept the games moving smoothly. Tourists and visitors from all over filled the Carlson Center each day and were immersed into the rich culture of the WEIO games and history.
Native foods donated by individuals were shared with elders in the Elders’ Lounge. There was whale blubber, marine mammal meat, fried bread, smoked salmon, berries, coffee and other delicacies for the elders who enjoyed their food while socializing and relaxing with their friends.
Also mingling with the WEIO crowd on Saturday were Governor Bill Walker and Lt. Governor Byron Mallott.
For the fish cutting and seal skinning contests, everything was donated for the games. Seal hunter Gunny Solomon of Barrow and his son donated some of their seals for this event. Also donated from the village of Wainwright was the whale muktuk for the Muktuk Eating Contest.
Solomon also volunteered to be the Blanket Toss caller and lead Puller this year. His calls of “ataussiq, malruk, pinassut!” echoed through the Carlson Center during this event.
Without the generosity of these donors, these exciting and fun events would not be possible. WEIO organizers thanked their many sponsors including Lynden and Northern Air Cargo for shipping.
The cut fish and seals were donated to elders.
Throughout the games, each event that took place had some significant meaning which was explained in detail for the audience. For example, the Indian Stick Pull represents how well you can hold on to a slippery salmon. The excruciating Ear Pull exemplifies the pain from getting frostbitten ears in the winter, and the Scissor Broad Jump illustrates how well you can jump from ice floe to ice floe.
Standing by during the Knuckle Hop on closing night were first aid providers. They tenderly cared for each contestant who came back from the floor with bloodied, skinned, scraped, and bruised knuckles.
“Those ladies were so loving and nice, they were like, oh we are so proud of you,” said one contestant. “They bandaged up all my wounds so gently.”
And that embodies the spirit of WEIO. Each participant and volunteer and helper in any way is a cheerleader, pushing each other to do their best.
Burning brightly and quietly being tended by lamptenders was the WEIO flame kept in an Eskimo lamp fueled with seal oil.
“The Carlo Family accepted the flame for the lighting of the seal oil lamp at the opening of the 2018 event, in honor of their mother and grandmother Poldine Carlo,” said WEIO organizers.
The events and games wrapped up on Saturday night.

Isaiah Waghiyi of Savoonga competing in the Knuckle Hop.

SCISSOR BROAD JUMP
Female Competition
1st place: Veronica McDonald, Fort Smith NWT, 26’ 8 1/2”
2nd place: Amber Vaska, Fairbanks, 25’ 1 1/2”
3rd place: Erica Meckel, Fairbanks, 24’ 6 1/2”
Male Competition
1st place: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet, 36’ 2”
2nd place: Isaiah Waghiyi, Savoonga, 32’ 10”
3rd place: Kyle Worl, Juneau, 31’ 9 1/2”
KNEEL JUMP
Female Competition
1st place: Veronica McDonald, Fort Smith NWT, 54 1/4”
2nd place: Amber Vaska, Fairbanks, 51 1/4”
3rd place: Erica Meckel, Fairbanks, 41”
Male Competition
1st place: Kyle Worl, Juneau, 63 3/4”
2nd place: Austin Sumdum, Anchorage, 58 3/4”
3rd place: Casey Ferguson, Eagle River, 49 1/2”
ONE HAND REACH
Female Competition
1st place: Raven Morgan, Fairbanks, 54” 1 miss
2nd place: Deenaalee Hodsdon, Fairbanks, 54” 2 misses
3rd place: Teyah Clark Wasilla, 54” 4 misses
Male Competition
1st place: Bernard Clark, Wasilla, 69”
2nd place: Casey Ferguson, Eagle River 66”
3rd place – TIE between Virgil Kapotak, Anchorage and Kyle Worl, Juneau, 64”
RACE OF THE TORCH
Female Competition
1st place: Sidney Isom, Lake Minchumina, 21 min, 58 sec
2nd place: Maxine Dibert, Fairbanks, 24 min, 44 sec
3rd place: Laura Ekada, Fairbanks, 24 min, 59 sec
Male Competition
1st place: Dion Susook, Galena, 17 min, 18 sec
2nd place: Keel Simon, Fairbanks, 19 min, 37 sec
3rd place: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet 19 min, 59 sec
FISH CUTTING
1st place: Kelly Lincoln, Bethel, 35.53 seconds
2nd place: Marjorie Tahbone, Fairbanks, 36.22 seconds
3rd place: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet, 49.93 seconds
FOUR MAN CARRY
1st place: Sido Evans, Fairbanks, 308’ 10” – NEW RECORD
2nd place: Stanley Riley, Anaktuvuk Pass, 265’ 10”
3rd place: Walter Hawkins, Anchorage, 201’ 9”
ESKIMO STICK PULL
Female Competition
1st place: Deenalee Hodsdon, Fairbanks
2nd place: Christina Glenzel, Anchorage
3rd place: Brittany Woods-Orrison, Rampart
Male Competition
1st place: Sido Evans, Fairbanks
2nd place: Stan Swetzof, Naknek
3rd place: Walter Hawkins, Anchorage
ALASKAN HIGH KICK
Female Competition
1st place: Veronica McDonald, Fort Smith NWT, 72”
2nd place: Kinniq Johnson Sampson, Anchorage, 68”
3rd place: Jazmine Jones, Fairbanks, 66” 1 miss
Male Competition
1st place: Casey Ferguson, Eagle River, 90”
2nd place: Kyle Worl, Juneau, 89” 2 misses
3rd place: Andreas Demientieff, Anchorage, 89” 4 misses
GREASED POLE WALK
by K.J. Lincoln
The coronation of a new Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics has taken place and the winner is Inuraaq Kaylene Evans of Nome.
The World Eskimo Indian Olympics took place in the host city of Fairbanks this past weekend, July 18-21. Five Miss WEIO contestants participated in the event: Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics contestants included: Miss Top of the World – Azara Leavitt of Barrow, Miss Arctic Native Brotherhood – Lisa Lynch of Anchorage, Miss Arctic Circle – Davidann Mills of Noatak, Iñuraaq Kaylene Evans of Nome, and Miss Cama-i – Maritza Nuglene-Gomez of Anchorage/White Mountain.
2017 Miss WEIO Piiyuuk Olivia Shields passed on her crown on coronation night, Saturday July 21st after her year reign.
“Quyana for all of your love and support throughout my year as Miss World Eskimo Indian Olympics. I am very humbled and honored to have represented our people,” she wrote.
Miss Cama-i Maritza Nuglene-Gomez was awarded the 1st Runner Up award. She is next in line for the crown if Miss WEIO is unable to continue to serve. Nuglene-Gomez also won the Most Photogenic Award. She hails from White Mountain and Anchorage.
The contestants had a busy week with their interviews, talent presentations, photo sessions, and speeches.
The new Miss WEIO presented the winners of the Seal Skinning Contest with their medals as her first official duty. Her and her court also participated in the Golden Days Parade on Saturday morning.
2018 MISS WEIO RESULTS
Miss WEIO: Kaylene Evans, Nome
1st runner up: Maritza Nuglene-Gomez, Anchorage/White Mountain
2nd runner up: Davidann Mills, Noatak
Miss Congeniality: Davidann Mills
Most Photogenic: Maritza Nuglene-Gomez
Most Talented: Azara-Lee Leavitt
Most Traditional: Kaylene Evans

Female Competition
1st place: Amber Applebee, Kailua-Kona HI, 44 3/4”
2nd place: Christina Glenzel, Anchorage, 33 3/4”
3rd place: Aizah Sullivan, Fairbanks, 29 1/2”
Male Competition
1st place: Ryan Glenzel, Soldotna, 88 1/2”
2nd place: Sam Strange, Chugiak 87 1/4”
3rd place: Kyle Worl, Juneau, 67”
MUKTUK EATING
1st place: Donna Rexford, Fairbanks, 53.71 seconds
2nd place: Stanley Riley, Anaktuvuk Pass, 1 min, 1.46 seconds
3rd place: Diane DuFour, Fairbanks, 1 min, 14.39 seconds
INDIAN STICK PULL
Female Competition
1st place: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome
2nd place: Nicole Johnston, Eagle River
3rd place: Tatiana Ticknor, Anchorage
Male Competition
1st place: Isaiah Waghiyi, Savoonga
2nd place: Skyler Ervin, North Pole
3rd place: Jeremiah Vanderpool, McGrath
DROP THE BOMB
1st place: Kyle Worl, Juneau, 123 feet, 10 1/2 inches
2nd place: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet, 109 feet, 2 1/4 inches
3rd place: Isaiah Waghiyi, Savoonga, 93 feet, 3 inches
TWO FOOT HIGH KICK
Female Competition
1st place: Veronica McDonald, Fort Smith NWT, 74”
2nd place: Amber Vaska, Fairbanks, 72”
3rd place: Kinniq Johnson Sampson, Anchorage, 66”
Male Competition
1st place: Casey Ferguson, Eagle River, 97”
2nd place: Kyle Worl, Juneau, 96”
3rd place: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet, 94”
EAR PULL
Female Competition
1st place: Michelle Strange, Chugiak
2nd place: Mitsi Evans, Fairbanks
3rd place: Joanne Semaken, Unalakleet
Male Competition
1st place: Linc Qimiq, Fairbanks
2nd place: Jeff Satterfiel, Anchorage
3rd place: Leroy Shangin, Anchorage
SEAL SKINNING
1st place: Mary Kakoona, Shishmaref, 02:01.3
2nd place: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome, 02:43.4
3rd place: Kelly Lincoln, Bethel, 03:40.4
HEAD PULL
Female Competition
1st place: Aurora Warrior, Anchorage
2nd place: Brittany Woods-Orrison, Rampart
3rd place: Deenaalee Hodgdon, Fairbanks
Male Competition
1st place: Stanley Riley, Anaktuvuk Pass
2nd place: Manuel Tumulak Jr., Anchorage
3rd place: Sanford Strange, Chugiak
NATIVE REGALIA – Indian style cloth
1st place: Christina Glenzel, Anchorage
NATIVE REGALIA – Indian hide
1st place: Ryker Meckel
2nd place: Dewey Hoffman
3rd place: Bryson Meckel
NATIVE REGALIA – Eskimo style cloth
1st place: Lauryn Hansen, Fairbanks
2nd place: Adelle Hansen, Fairbanks
3rd place: Harry Douglas
NATIVE REGALIA – Eskimo style fur
1st place: Chanda Rae Simon
2nd place: Chanel Simon
3rd place: TIE between River Wiseman and Kaliyah Jade Lozano
NATIVE BABY REGALIA – Indian hide
1st place: Jordan Erhart
2nd place: Aaron Kozevnikoff III
3rd place: Lilliana Bailey
NATIVE BABY REGALIA – Eskimo style cloth
1st place: Aaron Kozevnikoff III
NATIVE BABY REGALIA – Eskimo Style Fur
1st place: Robert Joseph Amayun Lozano III
2nd place: Leif Lie
3rd place: Mariah Kignak
Frank Whaley Outstanding Contributor Award: Select Physical Therapy for hours of donated Physical Therapy for athletes, volunteers and officials.