Arctic Winter Games to start on Sunday with nine Nome athletes

The Arctic Winter Games start Sunday in Greenland. Nine athletes from Nome are representing Team Alaska at the international tournament. They’ll compete in four events: Dene Games, Arctic Sports, Biathlon Ski, and Alpine Skiing.

Most of Nome’s athletes have competed in indigenous games since they were little kids. But at today’s practice, Coach Marjorie Tahbone has them trying something new.

“Snow Snake is a traditional Athabascan game,” Tahbone said.

Because it’s Athabascan, it’s new to the Nome competitors, who are used to playing Inuit games.

This is their first time practicing the outdoor event. In the parking lot outside the Nome Recreation Center, they take turns throwing a 5-foot-long spear along on the ice-packed asphalt. They throw it underhanded, and it glides across the snow like a snake.

“They used to used that as a way to hunt and stun animals on the ice,” said Tahbone. “Birds, for example. Ptarmigan. They would throw the spear from far away and hit and stun the bird. They would run up and wring its neck and get game that way.”

At the Arctic Winter Games, the furthest distance in three tries wins. Tahbone says the best athletes can propel the spear as far as 500 feet. Nome‘s competitors may not reach that level yet, since they’re new to Snow Snake. But Tahbone says Team Alaska will be a strong contender in most events.

Zach Tozier is on the team. He’s a junior at Nome-Beltz High School and he’s competed in Native games for six years. This will be his first Arctic Winter Games, and he says he’s excited for one event in particular.

“Probably the Indian Stick Pull,” Tozier said.

Stick Pull has two competitors stand side-by-side with their opposite feet braced against one another. Between them, they each grasp one end of a tapered stick that’s been greased. At the signal, they pull. Whoever wrenches the stick free from their opponent’s hand wins the round.

Like Snow Snake, Stick Pull is a best-of-three event. Tozier say he likes the skill because it’s not just about brute strength. He says it also tests finesse, patience, and strategy in how you grip the stick, when you twist it, and when you just hold on.

“Most of the games are strength-based,” said Tozier. “So it’s different when you’re just trying to hang on to a slimy stick. [Laughs]”

Stick Pull has its origins in Arctic peoples’ needing to grab and hold slippery fish. So while Tozier aims to medal in the event, he says competing is really about connecting with his family’s past and participating in tradition. He says it means lot to him, especially since many Native games were banned during periods of colonization and cultural assimilation.

“It’s bringing back my culture, as it was pretty much decimated when Alaska was taken over,” Tozier said. “So it’s just a nice way to immerse yourself into it.”

Coach Tahbone’s team is training for the Native events, but that’s only one part of the Arctic Winter Games.

“There’s skiing. There’s basketball. There’s wrestling, figure skating, hockey,” said Tahbone. “And then there’s us: Arctic Sports and Dene Games. We really bring the culture to the games, I think.”

Tahbone competed in three Arctic Winter Games before turning coach. She says one of her favorite parts is meeting other indigenous athletes. There are potlucks where Alaskans can socialize with competitors from Canada, Greenland, and other Arctic nations. She says teams exchange their national pins and sometimes hold a blanket toss for fun.

“It’s not about winning,” Tahbone said. “It’s not about winning at all over there. I mean, we’d really like it if we left with some medals. But really, I just want them to have fun and enjoy themselves — socialize and meet people and experience other things. Just have a good adventure over there in Greenland.”

And maybe, Nome’s athletes will even introduce their international opponents to a local tradition: the celebratory seal call.