by Greg Lincoln
The World Eskimo Indian Olympics 2023 has come to a close after a weekend of folks of all generations coming together to celebrate traditional Alaskan native games, dance, culture, artistry and craftsmanship, and food.
The Big Dipper Ice Arena, the ancestral home of WEIO, was the venue this year. WEIO was first established in 1961. Participants from all over came to join in the festivities including many tourists.
WEIO activities began on Wednesday including the Race of the Messenger. Bethel’s own Claire Dyment placed third in the race to win the bronze medal, finishing the 5K in 25 minutes, 5 seconds.
“I felt good. It was hot out though, that made it harder,” said Dyment who runs for the Bethel Warrior JH cross country team. “When I was running I didn’t know that I was in third. I found out after I finished.”
Coming in first was Kaasgeiy Samato of Juneau and Awaluk Nichols of Nome placed third.
A new award was introduced this year for fish cutters: Best Looking Fish. The inaugural winner of this category was Ariella Derrickson of Tanana. The judge for this award is Miss WEIO and this year the 2022 Miss WEIO Michelle Kaleak had the honor of inspecting the fish to find the one with best beauty of cut. The award, a framed tufted caribou hair piece, was made by Selina Alexander.
In the Maktak Eating Contest, Arnold Phillip of Kwigillingok won first place, eating his piece of arveq in 1 minute, 15 seconds. Coming in second was Diane DuFour of Fairbanks. Her time was 1 minute 42 seconds. Rounding out the top three was American Ninja Warrior Isaiah Waghiyi of Savoonga. His time was 1 minute 50 seconds.
Phillip also won the bronze medals in the Drop the Bomb and the Dena Stick Pull events.
Another American Ninja Warrior contestant Forest Strick participated at WEIO winning gold the Race of the Messenger, third in the Blanket Toss, and second in Drop the Bomb – will be having his premier showing for ANW this Monday.
Colton Paul of Kipnuk was named the Outstanding Athlete at this year’s WEIO games. He won gold in the Scissor Broad Jump, Kneel Jump, the One and Two Foot High Kicks, and third in the Knuckle Hop. His brother Christian Paul of Utqiagvik is this year’s gold medalist in the Knuckle Hop.
The Sportsmanship Award was given to Kaasgeiy Samato of Juneau.
Chevak’s Casey Ferguson who lives in Eagle River won the Alaskan High Kick with a final height of 92 inches.
Elders enjoyed delicious dinners, tea and water, camaraderie, and the WEIO atmosphere at the Elders’ Lounge on the main floor of the Big Dipper. There they could watch the events while socializing with their friends. Quyana!
World Eskimo Indian Olympics Results
July 12-15, 2023
Fairbanks, Alaska
Scissor Broad Jump
Female
1st: Jade Wren, Anchorage, 26 ft 9 1/2 in
2nd: Alice Johnston, Palmer, 25 ft 9 1/2 in
3rd: Eden Hopson, Anchorage, 24 ft 6 3/4 in
Male
1st: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 36 ft 9 3/4 in
2nd: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet, 35 ft 3 3/4 in
3rd: Bernard Clark, Wasilla 32 ft 1 3/4 in
4 Man Carry
1st: Iosefa Allen, Juneau, 161 feet 5 1/2 inches
2nd: Walter Hawkins, Anchorage, 155 feet
3rd: Sido Evans, Fairbanks, 149 feet 3 1/2 inches
Kneel Jump
FEMALE
1st: Amber Vaska, Fairbanks, 48 3/4 in
2nd: Veronica McDonald, Yellowknife 43 in
3rd: Alice Johnston, Palmer, 39 3/4 in
MALE
1st: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 62 1/4 in
2nd: Kyle Worl, Juneau, 55 1/4 in
3rd: Davin Malzahn, Fairbanks, 52 1/2 in (Tiebreak 51 3/4)
One Hand Reach
FEMALE
1st: Kylirose Paniptchuk, Fairbanks, 60 inches
2nd: Alice Johnston, Palmer, 58 inches
3rd: Eden Hopson, Anchorage, 56 inches
MALE
1st: Bernard Clark, Wasilla, 68 inches
2nd: Matthew Chagluak, Anchorage, 66 inches
3rd: Parker Kenick, Nome, 64 inches
Race of the Messenger
FEMALE
1st: Kaasgeiy Samato, Juneau, 22 min
2nd: Awaluk Nichols, Nome, 23 min 51 sec
3rd: Claire Dyment, Bethel, 25 min 5 sec
MALE
1st: Forest Strick, Wasilla, 18 min 23 sec
2nd: David Kokrine, Fairbanks, 19 min 1 sec
TIE 3rd: Finley Hightower, Juneau, 19 min 21 sec
TIE 3rd: Rodney Evans, Fairbanks, 19 min 21 sec
Blanket Toss
FEMALE
1st: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome
2nd: Allison Jack, Juneau
3rd: Alohna Johnson, Nome
MALE
1st: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet
2nd: Matthew Quinto, Juneau
3rd: Forest Strick, Wasilla
Fish Cutting
1st: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome, 40.27 seconds
2nd: Asaaluk Nichols, Nome, 57.32 seconds
3rd: Flora Rexford, Kaktovik, 1 min 15.14 seconds
Best Looking Fish
1st: Ariela Derrickson, Tanana
Inuit Stick Pull
FEMALE
1st: Ariella Derrickson, Tanana
2nd: Julee-Anna Preuit, Anchorage
3rd: Kaasgeiy Samato, Juneau
MALE
1st: Sido Evans, Fairbanks
2nd: David Edwards, Fairbanks
3rd: Walter Hawkins, Anchorage
Alaskan High Kick
FEMALE
1st: Eden Hopson, Anchorage, 70 inches
2nd: Sara Steeves, Juneau, 66 inches
3rd: Alice Johnston, Palmer, 66 inches 2 misses
MALE
1st: Casey Ferguson, Eagle River, 92 inches
2nd: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 90 inches
3rd: Alexavier Covey, Anchorage, 90 inches 5 misses
Maktak Eating
1st: Arnold Phillip, Kwigillingok, 1 min 15 sec
2nd: Diane DuFour, Fairbanks, 1 min 42 sec
3rd: Isaiah Waghiyi, Savoonga, 1 min 50 sec
Dena Stick Pull
FEMALE
1st: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome
2nd: Nicole Johnson, Anchorage
3rd: Katlyn Smith, Nome
MALE
1st: Forest Strick, Wasilla
2nd: Ezra Elisoff, Juneau
3rd: Arnold Phillip, Kwigillingok
Drop the Bomb
1st: Isaiah Waghiyi, Savoonga, 53.56 seconds
2nd: Forest Strick, Wasilla, 24.78 seconds
3rd: Arnold Phillip, Kwigillingok, 20.4 seconds
Two Foot High Kick
FEMALE
1st: Alice Johnston, Palmer, 78 inches
2nd: Amber Vaska, Fairbanks, 72 inches
3rd: Veronica McDonald, Yellowknife, 66 inches 1 miss
MALE
1st: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 100 inches
2nd: Parker Kenick, Nome, 92 inches
3rd Andrew Kashevarof, Anchorage, 90 inches
Ear Pull
FEMALE
1st: Caroline Wiseman, Anchorage
2nd: Flora Rexford, Kaktovik
3rd: Amanda Ahsogeak, Fairbanks
MALE
1st: Frank M Lane, Kotzebue
2nd: Frank Louis Lane, Anchorage
3rd: Paris Hebel, Nome
Bench Reach
Female
1st: Denali Glenzel, Kailua-Kona, 32 1/2 inches
2nd: Kaasgeiy Samato, Juneau, 31 3/4 inches
3rd: Alice Johnston, Palmer, 30 1/2 inches
MALE
1st: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet, 49 inches
2nd: Paris Hebel, Nome, 45 1/4 inches
3rd: Matthew Quinto, Juneau, 41 3/4 inches
Arm Pull
Female
1st: Nicole Johnson, Anchorage
2nd: Brittany Woods-Orrison, Fairbanks
3rd: Noel Strick, Wasilla
MALE
1st: Sido Evans, Fairbanks
2nd: Glenn Suvlu, Barrow
3rd: Brandon VanHatten, Fairbanks
Greased Pole Walk
FEMALE
1st: Veronica McDonald, Yellowknife, 25 1/2 inches
2nd: Alohna Johnson, Nome, 23 1/2 inches
3rd: Awaluk Nichols, Nome, 18 1/2 inches
MALE
1st: Peter Griggs, Anchorage, 63 inches
2nd: Elijah Cabinboy, Anchorage, 50 3/4 inches
3rd: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet, 38 1/4 inches
One Foot High Kick
FEMALE
1st: Alice Johnston, Palmer, 91 inches
2nd: Daisy Vanblarcom, Wasilla, 82 inches
3rd: Amber Vaska, Fairbanks, 78 inches
MALE
1st: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 112 inches
2nd: Parker Kenick, Nome, 108 inches
TIE 3rd: Bernard Clark, Wasilla, 104 inches 1 miss
TIE 3rd: Matthew Quinto, Juneau, 104 inches 1 miss
Ear Weight
1st: Frank M Lane, Kotzebue; 1,203 feet 6 1/2 inches
2nd: Frank L Lane, Anchorage, 543 feet 9 3/4 inches
3rd: Leroy Shangin, Anchorage, 345 feet
Knuckle Hop
1st: Christian Paul, Utqiagvik, 123 feet 2 1/2 inches
2nd: Nick Hanson, Unalakleet, 115 feet 4 inches
3rd: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 97 feet 5 1/2 inches
The Delta Discovery
The Delta Discovery, Inc. is a Native owned and operated weekly publication dedicated to the free exchange of ideas and issues of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
