by Greg Lincoln
The best part about the World Eskimo Indian Olympics aren’t the gold medals, or winning a spot on the podium – it’s the comradery, the sportsmanship, the encouragement and support that each participant gives to others during the competitions.
And the amazing army of seasoned officials and volunteers who make everything move along smoothly are just incredible. Ask any volunteer whatever you need or if you have a question and they will do their best to help you.
This year WEIO is celebrating their 60th year. The games took place at the Big Dipper Ice Arena – the home of WEIO in year’s past. Folks from all over Alaska and the world came to celebrate the 60th year of native games, dance, and arts and crafts. Vendors for organizations were also there to raise awareness and to support health, voting, and youth programs. Special guest Molly of Denali also came to visit on opening day.
There were several participants from the Yukon Kuskokwim delta region who took part in the events. Arnold Phillip of Kwigillingok took first in the men’s Alaskan High Kick event, hitting 86”. And our very own Kelly Lincoln won both the Fish Cutting and Seal Skinning contests and she got to keep her fish and seal – thank you to WEIO for these generous gifts. She also tied for third in the 5K Race of the Torch. Good job!
It was great to see everyone – old friends and new connections were made. Kids had a blast and tourists got a taste of our vibrant native cultures and art. WEIO events represent our traditional survival skills and keep our endurance, stamina, and strength strong and vibrant. Thank you to our Interior city neighbors of Fairbanks for hosting this event.
2021 WEIO Games and Event Results
SCISSOR BROAD JUMP
Female
1st: Sarah Steeves, Juneau 24′ 9 1/2″
2nd: Eden Hopson, Barrow 23′ 10 1/2″
3rd: Awaluk Nichols, Nome 22′ 2″
Male
1st: Bernard Clark, Wasilla 33′ 6″
2nd: Ezra Elisoff, Juneau 31′ 2″
3rd: Alexavier Covey, Anch 30′ 5 3/4″
KNEEL JUMP
Female
1st: Eden Hopson, Anch 35′ 1/2″
2nd: Autumn Ridley, Fbks 32′
3rd: Patrice DeAsis, Juneau 32′
Male
1st: Kyle Worl, Juneau 56′ 3/4″
2nd: Matthew Quinto, Juneau 49′ 1/2″
3rd: Alexavier Covey, Anch 42′ 3/4″
RACE OF THE TORCH
Female
1st: Dawn Dinwoodie, Fbks 24 min 54 sec
2nd: Awaluk Nichols, Nome 25 min 47 sec
Tie 3RD: Katlyn Smith, Nome 46 min 28 sec
Tie 3RD: Kelly Lincoln, Bethel 46 min 28 sec
Male
1st: Elliott Evans, Fbks 22 min 34 sec
2nd: Paris Hebel, Nome 22 min 57 sec
3rd: Vincent Tomalonis, Anch 26 min 30 sec
ONE HAND REACH
Female
1st: Eden Hopson, Anch 56″
2nd: Autumn Ridley, Fbks 54″
3rd: Teyah Clark, Wasilla 52″
Male
1st: Bernard Clark, Wasilla 70″
2nd: Sage Worl, Anch 62″
3rd: Virgil Kapotak, Togiak 62″
FISH CUTTING
1st: Kelly Lincoln, Bethel 35.27 sec
2nd: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome 37.55 sec
3rd: Marilyn Irelan, Nome 1 min 4 sec
4 MAN CARRY
Male
1st: Walter Sean Hawkins, Anch 186 feet 2 inches
ESKIMO STICK PULL
Female
1st: Julee-Anna Van Velzor, Chugiak
2nd: Grace Oomittuk, Wasilla
3rd: Patrice DeAsis, Juneau
Male
1st: Matthew Sido Evans, Fbks
2nd: Walter Sean Hawkins, Anch
3rd: Kyle Worl, Juneau
GREASED POLE WALK
Female
1st: Nicole Johnson-Morton, Nome 34 1/4″
2nd: Awaluk Nichols, Nome 32″
3rd: Denali Glenzel, Kenai 30 1/2″
Male
1st: Alex Mallott, Juneau 31.5″
Tie 2ND: Kyle Worl, Juneau 31″
Tie 2ND: Matthew Sido Evans, Fbks 31″
3rd: Leroy Shangin, Anch 26.5″
ALASKAN HIGH KICK
Female
1st: Sara Steeves, Juneau 70″
2nd: Autumn Ridley, Fbks 68″
3rd: Eden Hopson, Barrow 66″
Male
1st: Arnold Phillip, Kwigillingok 86″
2nd: Bernard Clark, Wasilla 84″ 2 misses
3rd: Kyle Worl, Juneau 84″ 3 misses
MAKTAK EATING
1st: Donna Rexford, Anch 56.09 sec
2nd: Diane DuFour, Fbks 1 min 10.96 sec
3rd: Corinne Danner, Barrow 1 min 30.64 sec
INDIAN STICK PULL
Female
1st: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome
2nd: Nicole Johnson, Anch
3rd: Julee-Anna Van Velzor, Chugiak
Male
1st: Ezra Elisoff, Juneau
2nd: Leroy Shangin, Anch
3rd: Kyle Worl, Juneau
EAR PULL
Female
1st: Aizah Sullivan, Fbks
2nd: Nicole Johnson, Anch
3rd: Denali Glenzel, Las Vegas
Male
1st: James Wardlow, Fbks
2nd: Leroy Shangin, Anch
3rd: Matthew Quinto, Juneau
TWO FOOT HIGH KICK
Female
1st: Amber Vaska, Fbks 72″
2nd: Eden Hopson, Barrow 68″
3rd: Patrice DeAsis, Juneau 64″
Male
1st: Kyle Worl, Juneau 92″
2nd: Bernard Clark, Wasilla 90″
3RD: Ezra Elisoff, Juneau 86″
BLANKET TOSS
Female
1st: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome
2nd: Autumn Ridley, Fbks
3rd: Teyah Clark, Wasilla
Male
1st: Bernard Clark, Wasilla
2nd: Matthew Quinto, Juneau
3rd: Reggie Joule, Anch
DROP THE BOMB
1st: Paris Hebel, Nome 27′ 8″
2nd: Kyle Abbott, Juneau 11′ 10 1/2″
3rd: Christopher Sumdum Jr. , Anch 11′ 2 1/2″
SEAL SKINNING
1st: Kelly Lincoln, Bethel 2 min 7.53 sec
2nd: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome 2 min 15.47 sec
3rd: Diane DuFour, Fbks 5 min 41.88 sec
BENCH REACH
Female
1st: Lita Johnson, Anch 28 1/2″
2nd: Awaluk Nichols, Nome 28 1/4″
3rd: Eden Hopson, Barrow 27 1/4″
Male
1st: Bernard Clark, Wasilla 41″
2nd: Paris Hebel, Nome 39 1/2″
3rd: Kyle Worl, Juneau 37 3/4″
ARM PULL
Female
1st: Nicole Johnson, Anch
2nd: Dawn Randazzo, Anch
3rd: Autumn Randazzo, Anch
Male
1st: Matthew Sido Evans, Fbks
2nd: Brian Walker, Anvik
3rd: Kyle Worl, Juneau
ONE FOOT HIGH KICK – CANADIAN STYLE
Female
1st: Eden Hopson, Barrow 80″
2nd: Amber Vaska, Fbks 78″
3rd: Sara Steeves, Juneau 72″
Male
1st: Bernard Clark, Wasilla 100″
2nd: Ezra Elisoff, Juneau 98″
3rd: Matthew Quinto, Juneau 96″
EAR WEIGHT
1st: Frank Lane, Kotzebue 503 feet 3 1/4 inches
2nd: Leroy Shangin, Anch 233 feet 7 1/4 inches
3rd: Homer Lord, Fbks 221 feet 1 1/2 inches
KNUCKLE HOP
1st: Kyle Worl, Juneau 154′ 9 3/4″
2nd: Elliott Evans, Fbks 69′ 9″
3rd: Ezra Elisoff, Juneau 69′ 4 1/4″
BABY REGALIA WINNERS
INDIAN CLOTH
1st: Rebecca Chandler \ Rowan Chandler, Fbks
2nd: Allyssa Nashookpuk \ Tada Cecilia Nashookpuk, Fbks
INDIAN HIDE
1st: Allyssa Nashookpuk \ Tada Cecilia Nashookpuk, Fbks
2nd: Rebecca Chandler \ Rowan Chandler, Fbks
3rd: Christina Nicholas \ Lydia Mercia Evans, Fbks
ESKIMO CLOTH
No Contestants
ESKIMO FUR
1st: Dora Spencer \ Alyssa Rose Spencer, Barrow
2nd: Alannah Jones \ Alyssa Marie Rock, Wasilla
3rd: Vanessa Harvey \ Hudson Nayokpuk, North Pole
REGALIA WINNERS
INDIAN CLOTH
1st: Lisa McEnulty \ Knisca McEnulty Town: North Pole
2nd: Rigel Denny, Juneau
3rd: Gina Kalloch \ Amber Applebee Town: Fbks
INDIAN HIDE
1st: Jamie Bridges \ Sawyer Bridges, Fbks
2nd: Gina Kalloch \ Travis Cole, Fbks
ESKIMO CLOTH
1st: Corinne Danner, Barrow
2nd: Lauryn Hansen, Fbks
3rd: Cingarkaq Peter-Raboff, Fbks
ESKIMO FUR
1st: Marjorie Tahbone, Fbks
1st: Ida Rexford \ Robert Lozano III, Barrow
2nd: Ida Rexford \ Kaliyah Jade Lozano, Barrow
ESKIMO DANCE GROUP WINNERS
1ST: Nukakiaq, Wainwright
2ND: Ilakus, Anch
Miss WEIO Pageant
Miss WEIO: Autumn Madison, Kotzebue
1st Runner Up: Laura Akada, Nulato
2nd Runner Up: Ashley Luke, Healy Lake
Outgoing Miss WEIO: Geneva Wright, Tanana
Most Traditional: Ashley Luke
Best Public Speaker: Laura Ekada
Most Talented: Autumn Madison
Most Photogenic: Autumn Madison
Miss Congeniality: Autumn Madison
Special Awards
Howard Rock Memorial Outstanding Athlete Award: Kyle Worl, Juneau
A.E. “Bud” Hagberg Memorial Sportsmanship Award: Bernard Clark, Wasilla
