WEIO promotes culture and connections

by Greg Lincoln

The 2022 World Eskimo Indian Olympics is in the books. Congratulations to all of the participants and to the event organizers for a successful event. WEIO showcases our native cultures, arts and craftsmanship, strength, skill and endurance, and song and dance.

Some of the games overlap with Native Youth Olympics. We were happy to see some of our region’s NYO athletes participating at WEIO.

Athletes hailed from all over Alaska including Anchorage, Wasilla, Nome, Juneau, Kenai, Chenega, Bethel, Teller, Winslow Arizona, Kotzebue, Palmer, Kongiganak, Kipnuk, Savoonga, Barrow, Anaktuvuk Pass, Toksook Bay, and many other places.

Team Juneau sent a contingent of 22 athletes and coaches this year, thanks to a last minute funder who donated so the team could go, said Coach Kyle Worl.

Also participating in the games was America Ninja Warrior Isaiah Waghiyi – a St. Lawrence Island Yup’ik from Savoonga, fresh off of his inaugural performance on the American Ninja Warrior course. He said that he will be back to try again on the ANW show next season.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy was mingling in the WEIO crowd along with First Lady Rose who is from Noorvik. They each addressed those in attendance. And on another day we saw former Governor Bill Walker and his entourage. They participated in the invitational dances on the floor.

Good job Colton Paul of Kipnuk, the 2022 NYO Overall Athlete – he won several WEIO medals.

This year there were only two Miss WEIO queen contestants – Miss Top of the World Michelle Uyumgaq Kaleak, a 2^nd grade teacher from Utqiagvik and Miss Arctic Circle Claire Tatqiq Nay of Kotzebue. Michelle Kaleak was crowned the new Miss WEIO for 2022.

The WEIO Board and Chair Gina Kalloch honored the Volunteers of the Year awardees – Mark and Laura Raifsnider and their daughter – who came all the way from Pennsylvania to help at the event. This is their 5^th year of volunteering, quyana for your service.

And coming home will be our very own Kelly Lincoln, the new world record holder for fish cutting. Congratulations! Several other records were broken in the Swing Kick Event. Eden Hopson of Anchorage set the new ladies record at 56”. And for the men there was a tie with Bernard Clark of Wasilla and Peter Griggs of Anchorage setting the new record for the men at 64”.

This year WEIO took place at the Big Dipper Ice Arena, the original home of WEIO. Some of the events took place in the outdoor field under the tents. The Race of the Torch was a scenic 5K race that began and ended at the Big Dipper.

We enjoy visiting the Golden Heart City where folks don’t drive too fast and everyone is very friendly. We were thankful it wasn’t too hot or smoky but nice and cool. Quyana to our host family the Hansens for all your wonderful hospitality and great food and company. Congratulations to our athletes for representing your homelands and people, good job everyone.

2022 WEIO Games Results

Toe Kick

Women

1^st Eden Hopson, Anch 46”

2^nd Teyah Clark, Wasilla 34”

3^rd Amber Vaska, Fbks 22”

Men

1^st Parker Kenick, Nome 60”

2^nd Jens Irelan, Nome 56” 6 misses

3^rd Kyle Worl, Juneau 56” 7 misses

Four Man Carry

1^st Walter Hawkins, Anch 78’6”

2^nd Judah Eason, Kenai 5’4 ½”

Kneel Jump

Women

1^st Amber Vaska, Fbka 44 ½”

2^nd Eden Hopson, Anch 34”

3^rd Alyssa Clark, Anch 27 ½”

Men

1^st Austin Sumdum, Anch 51”

2^nd Kyle Worl, Juneau 50”

3^rd Joseph Cross, Chenega 45 ¾”

One Hand Reach

Women

1^st Eden Hopson, Anch 58”

2^nd JoBeth Stuart, Bethel 56”

3^rd Lauryn Garnie, Teller 55”

Men

1^st Bernard Clark, Wasilla 70”

2^nd Virgil Kapotak, Anch 64”

3^rd Kyle Worl, Juneau 60”

Race of the Torch

Women

1^st Awaluk Nichols, Nome 24:33

2^nd Leo McNaughton, Juneau 34:33

3^rd Kelly Lincoln, Bethel 39:10

Men

1^st Elliott Evans, Fbks 19:27

2^nd Levi Olin, Winslow 20:50

3^rd Paris Hebel, Nome 20:53

Fish Cutting

1^st Kelly Lincoln, Bethel 26:85 sec New World Record

2^nd Marjorie Tahbone, Nome 29:92 sec

3^rd Siikauraq Whiting, Kotz 48:68 sec

Blanket Toss

Women

1^st Marjorie Tahbone

2^nd Eden Hopson, Anch

3^rd Teyah Clark, Wasilla

Men

1^st Dustin Phipps, Fbks

2^nd Reggie Joule IV, Anch

3^rd Joseph Cross, Chenega

Inuit Stick Pull

Women

1^st Julee-Anna Preuit, Anch

2^nd Michelle Wardlow, Kenai

3^rd Diane DuFour, Fbks

Men

1^st David Lee Edwards, Fbks

2^nd Iosefa Allen, Juneau

3^rd Scott Thacker, Fbks

Alaskan High Kick

Women

1^st Eden Hopson, Anch 72”

2^nd JoBeth Stuart, Bethel 64”

3^rd Misty Wilmarth-Agoff, Palmer 62”

Men

1^st Colton Paul, Kipnuk 90”

2^nd Ezra Elisoff, Juneau 86”

3^rd Kyle Kanuk, Kongiganak 84”

Greased Pole Walk

Women

1^st Kiana Allen, Juneau 60”

2^nd Awaluk Nichols, Nome 48 ½”

3^rd Asaaluk Nichols, Nome 47 ¾”

Male

1^st Colton Paul, Kipnuk 39”

2^nd Isaiah Waghiyi, Savoonga 35”

3^rd Kyle Worl, Juneau 26 ¼”

Maktak Eating

1^st Joseph Cross, Chenega 1 min 10 secs

2^nd Chris Kalmakoff, Anch 1 min 13 secs

3^rd Corinne Danner, Barrow 1 min 17 secs

Dena Stick Pull

Women

1^st Marjorie Tahbone, Nome

2^nd Helen John, Juneau

3^rd Kiana Allen, Juneau

Men

1^st Ezra Elisoff, Juneau

2^nd Leroy Shangin, Anch

3^rd Chris Kalmakoff, Anch

Drop the Bomb

1^st Kyle Worl, Juneau 101’ 10 ½”

2^nd Isaiah Waghiyi, Savoonga 49’ ½”

3^rd Paris Hebel, Nome 37 ½”

Regalia (36 mos – 99yo)

Eskimo Cloth

1^st Adelle Nakrialnguq Hansen, Fbks

2^nd Corrine Danner, Barrow

3^rd (tie) Lauryn Panruk Hansen, Fbks

Adeline Moses, Toksook Bay

Eskimo Fur

1^st Corrine Danner, Barrow

2^nd Letha Chimegalrea Simon, Bethel

3^rd Ruth Black, Anch

Ear Pull

Women

1^st Auna Reed-Lewis, Palmer

2^nd Michelle Wardlow, Kenai

3^rd Nicole Johnson, Nome

Men

1^st Frank Lane, Kotz

2^nd Leroy Shangin, Anch

3^rd Paris Hebel, Nome

Two Foot High Kick

Women

1^st (tie) Eden Hopson, Anch 69”

Amber Vaska, Fbks 69”

3^rd Auna Reed-Lewis, Palmer 64”

Men

1^st Colton Paul, Kipnuk 96”

2^nd Kyle Worl, Juneau 94”

3^rd Bernard Clark, Wasilla 90”

Seal Skinning

1^st Marjorie Tahbone, Nome 2 min 16 sec

2^nd Diane DuFour, Fbks 4 min 23 sec

3^rd Isaiah Waghiyi, Savoonga 5 min 10 sec

Swing Kick

Women

1^st Eden Hopson, Anch 56” New World Record

2^nd Tria Bowers, Juneau 46”

3^rd Amber Vaska, Fbks 42”

Men

1^st Bernard Clark, Wasilla 64” 1m New World Record

2^nd Peter Griggs, Anch 64” 3m New World Record

3^rd Kyle Worl, Juneau 60”

Head Pull

Women

1^st Amber Vaska, Fbks

2^nd Michelle Wardlow, Kenai

3^rd Julee-Anna Preuit, Anch

Men

1^st Iosefa Allen, Juneau

2^nd Scott Thacker, Fbks

3^rd Kyle Worl, Juneau

One Foot High Kick AK Style

Women

1^st Amber Vaska, Fbks 64”

2^nd Misty Wilmarth-Agoff, Palmer 64” 1m

3^rd Eden Hopson, Anch 60”

Men

1^st Ezra Elisoff, Juneau 98”

2^nd Alexavier Covey, Anch 94”

3^rd Kyle Worl, Juneau 94” 1m

Ear Weight

1^st Leroy Shangin, Anch 785’ 4 ½”

2^nd Frank Lane, Kotz 763’ 3”

3^rd Frank L. Lane, Kotz 77’ 8 ½”

Knuckle Hop

1^st Kyle Worl, Juneau 170’ 1 ¼”

2^nd Isaiah Waghiyi, Savoonga 88’ 7 ½”

3^rd Elliott Evans, Fbks 84’ 11 ½”