In the spirit of their ancestors, nearly 500 youth from across Alaska assemble in Anchorage each spring to demonstrate their skills in traditional Native games during NYO Games. The next games will be held April 27-29, 2012.
Started in 1972, the NYO Games, previously known as the Native Youth Olympics, provide insight into Alaska's rich cultural heritage while promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging friendly competition.
Events are based on games past generations of Alaska Natives played as a way to test their hunting and survival skills, increase strength, endurance, agility and the balance of mind and body. The Eskimo stick pull, for instance, is based on a strengthening exercise that Native hunters would do to prepare themselves for pulling seals out of the water.
Although the event origins are based on traditional Native activities, the competition is open to all students from seventh to 12th grade, regardless of ethnicity. Events include:
- The Wrist Carry: A test of survival. This event has origins based on hunters being able to carry their game back to the village. Hunters had to develop endurance and strength in order to carry the game over a long distance.
- The Eskimo Stick Pull: A game of strength. Successful hunters must be able to pull a seal out of the water. This is no easy task while maintaining balance on snow and ice. Hand, back and leg strength are essential.
- The One-Hand Reach: A game to test a person's control over their body. If a hunter was to become lost on water, for example, they must know the skills to control their body in order not to panic and tip their kayak.
- The Kneel Jump: Similar to the scissor broad jump in that the hunters must develop the skill of quick movement to be successful in jumping from one ice floe to another. This game also develops leg muscles necessary to lift heavy game and carry it back to the village.
- The One-Foot High Kick: Considered the headline event of the games. Competitors jump off both feet and attempt to kick a ball suspended high in the air with one foot, landing back on that same foot.
- The Seal Hop: A game of sheer endurance - to see how far a person can go on pure determination. This game originated from the hunter imitating the movement of a seal during the hunt.
The NYO Games are hosted by Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc., the nonprofit social service agency for Cook Inlet Region, Inc., with a mission to provide culturally appropriate services for Alaska Native people to achieve self-determination through individual, family and community development. The games include Alaska Native dance performances twice a day.
