NEWS ULUThe official newspaper of The winTer Games wednesday, March 12, 2008 In today’s ULU news… Alaska climbs to the top Highlights from yesterday’s action … See pages 3, 5, 7

What’s for dessert? Athletes dine on Chef Pierre’s fare … See page 13

Pin it on me AWG’s favourite trade good … See page 10

medal count

Team Gold Silver Bronze Total

Alaska 16 14 19 49

NWT 12 12 11 35

Yukon 10 9 12 31

Yamal 11 9 3 23

Nunavut 2 7 7 16

N. 4 6 3 12 Heart and soul Athletes like Kunuuti 2 4 2 8 Kleemann push their

Nunavik 3 1 2 6 bodies to the limit during AWG Saami 2 1 3 6 competition

Also inside: a day in pictures • contingent profiles • athlete profiles 2 ULU NEWS Issue 3, March 12, 2008 2008 arctic winter games venue map

SCHEDULE OF SPORTING EVENTS –WEDNESDAY MARCH 12 ArctIc SPortS - St. Joe’s Gymnasium and YK Arena doG MuShInG - Back Bay - YK Arena, courts 1 & 2 8:00a.m.-9:30a.m. St. Joe’s Open Triple Jump 11:00a.m.-12:30p.m. Juvenile 4 Dog, 7.5km 12:00p.m. -1:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 N. Alberta vs NWT 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m. YK Arena Jr. Triple Jump 2:00p.m.-3:30p.m. Co-ed Junior 6 Dog, 10km 12:00p.m. -1:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 Alaska vs Greenland Preliminaries 1:00p.m.-2:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 vs Alaska - olympic Ice Surface 1:00p.m.-5:00p.m. St. Joe’s All Alaskan High Kick 1:00p.m.-2:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 N. Alberta vs Nunavut 7:00a.m.-4:15p.m. Long program Finals 2:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 vs Nunavut 6:00p.m.-10:00p.m. St. Joe’s All Alaskan High kick hocKeY - Shorty Brown and olympic Ice Surfaces 2:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 NWT vs N. Alberta 7:30a.m.-9:30a.m. Shorty Female NWT vs Nunavut 3:00p.m.-4:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 N. Alberta vs Alaska - Sir John Gymnasium 9:30a.m.-11:30a.m. Shorty Bantam NWT vs Nunavut 3:00p.m.-4:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 Alaska vs Nunavut 8:00a.m.-6:00p.m. Jr. Male/Female, Juvenile Male/Female 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m. Shorty Midget Alaska vs Yukon 4:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 Greenland vs NWT Singles/Doubles, Courts 1 - 4 4:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 Yukon vs Greenland 1:30p.m.-3:30p.m. Shorty Female Yukon vs Alaska 5:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 N. Alberta vs Nunavut - Weledeh Gymnasium 3:30p.m.-5:30p.m. Shorty Bantam Alaska vs Yukon 5:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 Alaska vs N. Alberta 9:00a.m.-11:00a.m. Jr. Female Nunavut vs Yamal 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. Olympic Midget NWT vs Nunavut 6:00p.m.-7:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 Yukon vs NWT 5:30p.m.-7:30p.m. Shorty Bantam Nunavut vs N. Alberta 11:00a.m.-1:00p.m. Jr. Male Alaska vs NWT 6:00p.m.-7:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 NWT vs Greenland 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Olympic Female Nunavut vs N. Alberta 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Jr. Male Nunavut vs Yukon 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 Greenland vs Alaska 3:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Jr. Female Yukon vs Alaska Indoor Soccer - St. Patrick’s and Weledeh Gymnasiums 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 Yukon vs Nunavut 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. Jr. Female Yamal vsNWT 8:00a.m.-9:00a.m. Weledeh Jr. Male Greenland vs Yamal 8:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 Yukon vs Alaska SnoWShoe - Yk Ski club 8:00a.m.-9:00a.m. St. Pat’s Juvenile Male Alaska vs Yukon 8:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 NWT vs Nunavut 9:00a.m.-10:00a.m. St. Pat’s Juvenile Male Nunavut vs NWT 9:30a.m.-11:00a.m. Mass Start Competition - Mildred hall Gymnasium 10:00a.m.-11:00a.m. St. Pat’s Jr. Male Nunavut vs Yukon Individual Competitions BIAthlon SKI - Yk Ski club 11:00a.m.-12:00p.m. St. Pat’s Jr. Male Alaska vs NWT 9:00am-3:00pm Jr. Male/Female Alaska 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Mass Sart Competition 12:00p.m.-1:00p.m. St. Pat’s Jr. Female Alaska vs NWT N. Alberta 1:00p.m.-2:00p.m. St. Pat’s Jr. Female Yukon vs Nunavut - Yk curling club Nunavut 2:00p.m.-3:00p.m. St. Pat’s Juvenile Female Alaska vs Nunavut NWT Draw 4 3:00p.m.-4:00p.m. St. Pat’s Juvenile Female N. Alberta vs Yukon 9:30a.m.-12:20p.m. Jr. Male 13 Yukon vs Nunavut 4:00p.m.-5:00p.m. St. Pat’s Intermediate Female Jr. Male 14 N. Alberta vs Alaska Greenland vs Saami cultural Schedule Jr. Female 15 Nunavut vs N. Alberta 5:00p.m.-6:00p.m. St. Pat’s Intermediate Female Jr. Female 16 Alaska vs NWT Nunavut vs Yukon Performing Arts lunchtime concerts Draw 5 6:00p.m.-7:00p.m. St. Pat’s Intermediate Female Alaska vs NWT Tree of Peace 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. 2:30p.m.-5:30p.m. Jr. Male 17 NWT vs Yukon - Bristol Pit Baker Centre 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Jr. Male 18 Alaska vs Nunavut Northern Arts and Cultural Centre 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Rail Jam Jr. Female 19 Yukon vs Nunavut Visual Arts Art Installation Project Jr. Female 20 Alaska vs N. Alberta SnoWShoe - YK Golf club Kimberlite Centre 10:00a.m.–6:00p.m. GAMeS - Athletes centre Main Stage 2.5km CXC 10:45a.m. -11:00a.m. Juvenile Male/Female Visual Arts contingent Visual Arts exhibition Finger Pull 5km CXC Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre 10:00a.m.–6:00 p.m. 10:00a.m. -12:30p.m. Jr. Male 11:00a.m.-1:00p.m. Jr. Male/Female Jr. Female Visual Arts “creartik” 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Juvenile Female - range lake north Gymnasium Elks Hall 12:00pm–6:00 pm Open Male Preliminary Rounds Tree of Peace 4:30p.m.-5:00p.m. FINALS 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m. Singles Events (performance) 6:30pm–9:00pm Full schedule and results can be found at the Arctic Winter Games website awg2008.ca Issue 3, March 12, 2008 ULU NEWS 3 daily wrap-up

The first day of snowboarding competition was good to Brooke Voigt. The Albertan won gold in junior female banked slalom. Alaska takes the lead climbs ulu count, Yukon holds on to third

by Daniel T’seleie Alberta yesterday with a decisive shot down Nunavut's offense for a tries. “It's a lot faster than I'm used Gray and Sparky Kesler took gold in win over Team Nunavut. final score of 17-0. to.” Centre Aaron McInnes agrees. the juvenile male and female divi- eam Alaska had a strong They already had a 9-0 lead after Alaska has two games left in the “It's more physical,” he says. “They sions respectively, both winning by day two, taking the lead in the second period, but this was round robin tournament, and it move the puck a lot too.” less than half a second. the ulu race. no reason to slow down. “In the won't be easy. Sands describes the Alaska came out strong in the After a slow start on Monday The team's bantam third period we stepped it up,” said competition as “intense,” and says first day of snowboarding. The Team Alberta North made them- male hockey team recov- left winger Tyler Sands. The team it's difficult adapting to the playing banked slalom competition was selves known yesterday. The team's Tered from their loss to Northern scored eight goals in the third and styles of teams from different coun- held yesterday and Americans Kyle snowboarders secured five ulus in banked slalom competition. Brooke Voigt dominated in the junior fe- male division, winning by more than two seconds. She says it was a good day. “Usually I tend to hurt myself,” Voigt says. “It was good to be injury free.” Like most of the snowboard- ers she is competing in all the events, and is looking forward to today's rail jam, an event she trains for frequently. “I tend to hit [rails] more than anything else.” Tuesday was a good day for Team Yukon's ice and snow compet- itors. Ski biathlete Ryan Burlingame won his second gold ulu in as many days. He breezed across the finish line of the senior male's six-kilome- tre sprint just 1.3 seconds ahead of Team Yamal's Vitaly Gordievskykh. Cross-country skier Dahria Beatty also won her second gold of the Games. She finished the midget female's 500-metre free qualifica- tion nearly five seconds before Alaska's Maranda Merkes. Athletes

photos Daniel T’seleie T’seleie Daniel photos from Team Yukon also won medals Yukon’s sends the stone down the ice in yesterday’s junior female curling Team Alberta North’s Dillon Tallcree takes a practice competition. The team has won two of their three matches so far, and has one left before playoffs in figure skating, snowshoeing and throws in the before the snowsnake competition. begin. snowboarding.

The official newspaper of the 2008 Arctic Winter Games – Published by Northern News Services – Printed by Canarctic Graphics contact information editor: Chris Puglia You can e-mail us at: ulunews@ copy editor: Adam Johnson nnsl.com. We are located at 5108-50th ULU NEWS reporters: Jennifer McPhee • Lisa Scott • Daniel T'seleie Street. To speak with our editor call 873-4031. The Ulu News accepts photo Photographer: Merle Robillard orders for any images that appear in Graphic designer: Steve Hatch our pages. For ordering information please call 873-4031 or e-mail us. 4 ULU NEWS Issue 3, March 12, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 3, March 12, 2008 ULU NEWS 5 daily wrap-up Yamal masters table tennis Saami soccer sleeps in, Greenland dominates badminton

by Jennifer McPhee plishment was “pretty easy” for two-time sledge jump champion is Team Yamal because the tennis hoping to win again this year at the aami soccer team players champions practice so much and competition on Friday. According were still snoozing in their take the sport – and winning – so to translator Alexander Kulyashov, sleeping bags yesterday seriously, says translator Irene Tit- Taligin can jump 70 sledges without until ten minutes before kov. Russians have an “if you play, stopping. their early morning soc- you are supposed to win,” attitude Team Greenland dominated at Scer match. Because of schedule about sport, she adds. badminton, winning almost every changes, the team thought it Emily Cao of Team Alaska was match yesterday, and is also per- wasn't slated to play until much wowed by two juvenile Team Ya- forming well in Arctic sports. later in the day, said coach Bengt mal tennis players, Vitaly Ivchenko “They get better and better Are Jensen. and Sidorov Ilya. “Both can rally every time,” said coach Kim Ros- They madly scrambled to get back and forth for, like, ten min- ing. Arctic sports is a big part of to the game as quickly as possible, utes without stopping,” she says. Greendlandic culture, and Rosing skipping breakfast. Despite the “It's pretty cool.” was not surprised by the team's rude awakening, the resilient girls Team Yamal's figure skaters great results. One of the team's still managed to win their second took top spot in each flight of the strongest performances so far game. “They didn't know they short program yesterday earning came from Erneeraq Lindenhann had a match at all,” says Jensen. them a gold medal with Viktoriya who has now won gold in the air- “They thought they could sleep in Lobanova coming out on top. The plane event in the past four games. … It was hectic. They fought well, result bodes well for their free Bodil Mikaelsen is one of just despite no breakfast, and won five skate performance today. four female athletes on Team to four in the end.” “The last category was very Greenland competing in Arctic This was the Saami crew's tough,” says assistant chef de mis- sports. Her favourite events are second game and second win. On sion Yana Vrublevskaya. “All the the two-foot high kick and the Monday, they won five to four girls had bad luck … they just fell, Alaskan high kick. “Maybe because against Team Alaska. The team and fell and fell, but the last girl those are the ones that I'm good also played Team Yukon at 9 p.m. [Lobanova] collected all her power at,” she says. “I'm not the best one, yesterday evening. and effort and won the gold medal but I like it.” Team Yamal blew everyone for the team. What was most She doesn't get nervous com- away yesterday with its master- touching is that when she made peting in front of large crowds ful table tennis skills. The team her farewell bow, she just burst because she concentrates so hard won every team event except the into tears … It was so emotional.” that she blocks out the onlookers. juvenile boys category, losing in Team Yamal sledge jump “When you are about to kick some- photo Jennifer McPhee Jennifer photo that category to its only real rival, competitor, Rodion Taligin, spent thing, it feels like you are alone,” Yamal table tennis players Ilya Sidorov and Vitalik Ivchenko, from left to right, Greenland. This amazing accom- the day watching Arctic sports. The she says. wowed onlookers with their impressive rally skills. 6 ULU NEWS Issue 3, March 12, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 3, March 12, 2008 ULU NEWS 7 daily wrap-up Teams rack up day two ulus NWT scores Dene record, Nunavut excels in volleyball and heads into two-foot high kick finals Tuesday night by Lisa Scott sprint races, while Madison Pilling won a bronze in the junior female hey led the Games in the two-kilometre sprint. ulu count after day one, Both the female and male but on day two Team NWT volleyball teams are strug- NWT saw its competi- gling early in the Games. After six tion sneak up on them as matches both the boys and the TAlaska and the Yukon racked up girls teams have two wins and medals. four losses. They have time to The male curling team from make it back into contention in the the NWT came back from a loss double round robin, as they get the to Alberta on Monday to clinch chance to play each team twice. their second game in a close match-up against Alaska, 9-8. They went on to win their next game against Nunavut as well. The team is made up of players John Murray, Robert Heimbach and David Aho, under the di- rection of Colin Miller. Coach Maureen Miller watched her team closely as they faced Alaska on the ice. “I didn’t feel like Nunavut table tennis players Jutai Toonoo Jr. and we had our best per- Jackson Tootoo Ell warm up between doubles games formance yesterday on Tuesday. and we have a chance to improve today,” she said during Nunavut the game. Two of the curlers, Mill- Team Nunavut has come er and Aho, are defending a bronze out strong for the Games and medal from the 2006 games. Tuesday’s play was no different. “It’s a long season. Their goal The open co-ed wrestling team is just to improve along the way,” emerged from six rounds of match- says their coach. es with the silver ulu on Tues- The female team – of Natasha day. Alaska took the team gold, Petten, Danae Kelln, Jessica Hop- while Alberta North won bronze. kins and skip Kate Nunavut managed to Maksymowich – is 1 best its 2006 result and 1 as well, after at the Kenai Games, winning their first where they took the game against Nunavut Their goal bronze medal in this and then losing to event. the Yukon. The single is just to On the volleyball round robin continues court at the Yellow- Wednesday. improve along knife Community Team NWT broke Arena, team Nunavut their first record of the way. was pretty hyped up the Games, as Travis Tuesday as double Grandjambe won gold round robin action in the Dene games continued. The male snowsnake competition. Compet- team won all three games on ing in the open male category, Monday and headed into Tuesday’s Grandjambe threw a distance of play early in the day. With a loss 491.1 feet to best the old record of to Alberta and Greenland and one 460 feet. win against the NWT, that puts the Out at the snowboarding venue, team at four wins, two losses. competition got underway Tuesday Stephan Angotialuk was still with the banked slalom. Darryl Tait on a high after Monday’s perfor- of the NWT took the gold medal in mance, attributing their first loss the short slalom race against some Tuesday to the early hour of play tough competition. Deidralee

after the adrenalin highs of the Lisa Scott photos Alain Roy won bronze in the junior previous day. Nunavut volleyball player Aalaa Michael, 18, warms up before a game Tuesday. female category. “We were wide awake last Snowboarding competition night. This morning we were tired,” in interest in table tennis which movement on the court. records were being broken by continues Wednesday with the says the power hitter. shows in their eight-player team. Taipana and doubles teammate competitors. Out at the snowshoe quarter-pipe event. On the female side, the team Coach and former Canadian Jutai Toonoo Jr. were on the court venue, juvenile male competitor Tuesday was another good day struggled against some difficult National Team coach Attila Csaba Tuesday and Taipana says he and Norman Angnatuk placed a re- on the biathlon range for NWT, as competitors, failing to win a game has something to do with that. His his teammates are improving each spectable sixth place in the 2.5-ki- athletes came out and represented on Monday and losing two games players had to beat a field of 50 day. lometre cross country race, while once again. Brandon Norris won on Tuesday before getting their athletes just to make it onto the Minnie Snowball also took sixth for a gold in the snowshoe biathlon first win against Greenland. The team, showing how much inter- Nunavik the juvenile girls. two-kilometre sprint, while his girls head into Wednesday’s com- est there is in the racquet sport in Team Nunavik competed in Arc- Mission staff Nancy Dea of team sister Alicia took home a gold in petition down five games. Nunavut right now. tic sports, Badminton, Dene games Nunavik says the team has had a the female category. Snowshoe Up at the table tennis venue, For Kelvin Taipana, 13, the and the 2.5-kilometre snowshoe great two days of competition. biathletes Colton Glaicar and Char- team play continued Tuesday, with Games are a chance to learn from today. “Everyone is doing well and lene Deneyoua added to the medal the powerhouse Russian team the more experienced Russian Sandy Annanack won a gold everyone is placing well. It’s a posi- count with a silver each in the continuing to dominate the round players. “They’re really good,” ulu in the Dene games snow tive day, just like yesterday,” she two-kilometre and three-kilometre robin. Nunavut has had a surge he says of their serves and their snake competition on a day when says of the small contingent. 8 ULU NEWS Issue 3, March 12, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games tHe day in pictures

Seventeen-year-old Zara Bachli of Team Yukon hugs her coach after winning a table tennis match against Rosa Lorentzen, 17, of Greenland, pictured left, at Range Lake North school yesterday.

Darryl Tait of Team NWT carves the first corner during a practice run of the Snowboard Slalom course yesterday. photos Merle Robillard Merle Robillard photos Competitors make their way to the top of the hill during a warm-up for the Snowboard Slalom event at Bristol Pits Tuesday

The Astronotes of Alberta, consisting of Harrison Koehli, left, Dahsiell Dronyk, Thomas Grosset and Dexter Dronyk perform alternative rock at NAAC yesterday. 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 3, March 12, 2008 ULU NEWS 9 tHe day in pictures

Alex Robinson of Groundwork Sessions Funk Ensemble, a based dance group performs at NAAC Tuesday. Alice Strick of Team Alaska competes in the two-foot hich kick at Ecole St. Joseph school Tuesday. photos Merle Robillard Merle Robillard photos Blain Richter, Team Alberta cross-country skiing coach, uses some wax and a little elbow grease to prepare skis for the athletes before race time.

Malu Olsen, a cross-country skier from Team Greenland, wraps up in a blanket Seventeen-year-old Zara Bachli of Team Yukon serves against Rosa Lorentzen of Team Greenland at Range Lake North to keep warm at the Ski Club Tuesday. school Tuesday. 10 ULU NEWS Issue 3, March 12, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games around tHe games A trinket-trading frenzy AWG pins switch hands like crazy at Yellowknife Games by Daniel T’seleie designs,” said Nunavut's Manasie Kendall. f you ask Alberta's Sydney Each Nunavut athlete was given Litwin how many pins she 24 pins for these Games, but there's has collected at the Arctic a catch. The pins are divided into Winter Games you'll only get four sets of six, and when all six are one answer, “I have no idea.” combined they form a whale's tail. IShe keeps a scarf laden with shiny It's like a puzzle. This is the third trophies hidden in her bag. “I have time Nunavut has used the the more, too.” puzzle-pin design for the AWG. Past It can be hard to keep track of sets include a 10 piece iglu and an so many pins, and many competi- eight-piece inuksuk. tors, coaches and fans of the AWG Nunavut athletes can't trade couldn't tell you how many they all their precious and popular pins have either. immediately, though. They have to Not everyone is a serious pin ration them throughout the Games. collector, but you would be hard- “[Athletes] from other places don't pressed to find a single athlete get all their pins at once. Each day who has not traded at least a few. they get a new pin,” Kendall said. “Everybody [in the athlete's village] With fresh pins on the market every goes room to room and trades,” day the trading never stops, and said Alberta's Jenna Walsh. neither does the haggling. Most “Our team is trading quite a athletes are willing to make a one- few,” said NWT's Zander Affleck, for-one trade, but some drive a who has acquired 20 new pins so hard bargain. “Some people try and far. He too says people have been get more for their pin, they think showing up in his room asking to it's more valuable,” Kendall said. trade. Kendall has been rebuilding his Not all the pins are unique to the pin collection after the original was AWG. Many of the collectibles that stolen at his first AWG in 2004. To are floating around are from cities, this day he does not know who towns or sports organizations. took them. Once word got out the “There's special Yellowknife pins,” other athletes, coaches and officials said NWT's Dylan Short. The NWT at those Games dug deep into their athletes, like most contingents, pockets and pitched in to get him are given pins by their coaches so started again. they may trade them with other Now Kendall has more pins than competitors. he can keep track of. He attaches A quick poll of favourite pins them to towels, and has covered is guaranteed to point you in one two so far. There's a good reason he direction, Nunavut. keeps them on towels and not on “We always have interesting his jacket, “it gets kind of heavy.” photos Daniel T’seleie Daniel photos Above: Alberta’s Sydney Litwin holds up a scarf full of pins. Most were collected at the . It looks like a lot, but she has even more in storage. Left: Nunavut speed skater Manasie Kendall holds up his Nunavut pin. Pins are a hot commodity at the Arctic Winter Games, and athletes trade them like stocks. scAvenger Hunt Spring has sprung- there are RAVENS about, You will find the hints in the ULU NEWS, Each day there will be TEN for you to scout out. You will have from TEN to FIVE daily to solve all the CLUES. Not those feathered black birds you see about town, These large COLOURED raven statues don’t fly around. This is the Arctic Winter Games - get out and have FUN! The PINS are all unique; you get the only one, Why HUNT for these birds you all want to know? To find a hidden raven and collect a priceless pin. Why subject yourself to RUN through the snow? Remember there are only TWENTY pins available to win. Because on FOUR of the ravens a ribbon you will find, That you can exchange for an Arctic Winter Games PIN - If you find a prized ribbon you’ll be the envy of the town, one of a kind. Claim your prize at the Pin Table in the Athletes Centre located downtown. For only FIVE DAYS you will have a chance to seek, Lucky Winners will be named in the Ulu News, These big Northern birds decorated like FLAGS from tail to beak. As the sharpest and the fastest to solve all the clues. • A French name for home fashion your Northern hearts desires Yesterday’s winners hints • Not all that glitters is gold, NWT’s second • So much more than a soup store • Tara Naugler, Yk resident • Show your spirit and get your sports wear one of these I am told. • Not for sculptors, not for painters, but holds • Hannah Clark, Team NWT here. • Where the bureaucrats meet for a coffee more artists than Nashville can take • Art in here where the lights dance, come visit treat • Inspiration is very hard to find • Dana Polakoff, Team NWT it when you get the chance • From big to small they have it all, gifts for all • Not all gossip is news • Hanna Latour, Team NWT 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 3, March 12, 2008 ULU NEWS 1 1 contingent profile Team nWT represents More girls than boys, more aboriginal players than ever before by Jennifer McPhee With more communities partici- the team from the tiny community pating, he says that naturally boosts of Trout Lake. Team NWT usually has s the 20th Arctic Winter the team’s aboriginal involvement for a strong ski biathlon team, but the Games evolves into a the contingent. sport of snowshoe biathlon is just competition with more “In previous Games, it was the starting to grow in the territory. The sports and contingents, other way around. We’re now see- young team snagged a total of six one of its three found- ing a strong representation of our ulus in their first day of competition ingA members is also evolving – into aboriginal brothers and sisters,” says and six more on day two to make a a very different team than it was in Rentmeister. “We have a strong ab- total so far of four golden ulus, five 1970. original component that is indicative silvers and three bronze. The profile of Team Northwest of our population base.” The Dene games team has put on Territories is changing with each Events like snowshoe biathlon are a new face, too. The trend in previ- Games and those changes are very leading the charge in the increase, ous Games has been for one commu- apparent this time around. The with all eight of its members com- nity to dominate the trials and make 350-participant team is made up of ing from outside the capital city of up the team. This year’s 18-athlete 55 per cent females for the first time Yellowknife, with one athlete joining team is made up of male and female that chef de mission Doug Rentmeis- players from all age groups, hailing ter can remember in his 20-year his- from nine different NWT communi- tory with the competition. The team ties. The diversity of the squad is is also boasting more involvement a sure indication this contingent is from the territory’s 33 communities. more diverse than ever before. More than 45 per cent of the team As for performance at these members are from communities Games, Team NWT may have led the outside of Yellowknife, where the ulu count after day one, but Rent- majority of athletes have historically meister isn’t banking on holding off lived. the competition for long. “It’s not an “We’ve got strong rural represen- easy feat to choose who our stron- tation,” says Rentmeister. gest opposition will be coming from,” Eighteen NWT communities are he says, adding that all the contin- represented on the rosters for these gents are pretty awesome. Games. That is after a record 28 com- Regardless of the ulu count, Team munities came out to the territorial NWT 2008 is a strong one, made trials, with 825 athletes vying for Lisa Scott photo up of players that truly represent a spot on the team. These include Doug Rentmeister, chef de mission for the territory that has just more

Team NWT, says this is a very different Merle Robillard photo communities like Colville Lake in the than 42,000 people spread across a team than those he’s seen go to the The 2008 Team NWT features players from more communities outside Sahtu region and the outpost of Fort Arctic Winter Games since he became massive landscape of over a million the capital than ever before, as well as an increase in aboriginal and Reliance. involved in 1988. square kilometres. female athletes, like Michaelis Hurst pictured here. 12 ULU NEWS Issue 3, March 12, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games contingent profile greenland pulls off bronze Team strong in badminton, table tennis, and culture by Jennifer McPhee mentioned, Team Greenland is and the artists themselves become competing in cross-country skiing, part of this scenography because eam Greenland did so volleyball, and soccer this year. their modernized costumes are well at Arctic sports Probably, it won't do very well in embedded with lights. at the 2006 Games in cross-country skiing, said Claus Greenland's cultural contingent Alaska, it decided to Nielsen.“We hope for one or two also demonstrated mask dancing, compete in Dene games medals, but we don't expect any,” one of the oldest forms of theatre Tfor the first time in 2008. he says. “We have been good at in the world, at the lunch On the first day of the Games, cross-country skiing before, but time shows earlier in the week. Alfred Lindenhann won a bronze now we are not so good.” The performers tell the story of medal in stick pull. “It was an Team Greenland's intermedi- the mask, and the symbolism unexpected first win,” said Team ate girls soccer team is also having behind it. Greenland chef de mission Claus a tough time. The team lost its Mask dancing combines erotic Nielsen. first game 3-1 to Team Yukon on and comical elements and was “We knew he was very good, Monday, and lost again 7-0 to used to teach children about but that he could win a medal was Team Alaska yesterday. One of the where they came from, and about a surprise,” says mission staff Finn players got a red card early in the fear. Nielson. yesterday's game for too much “In the old times in Greenland, Greenland's 125-member con- contact and another player, Inaluk it was very important for children tingent also includes an amazing Rosing Petersen, suffered a minor to know what fear is before they badminton team. “Badminton is a muscle injury, although she contin- were confronted with something very big sport in Greenland,” says ued to play anyway because there really dangerous,” explains Anders Finn Nielson. “We have many good weren't any substitutes. Berndtsson, says chief executive players.” “It cost us a lot,” said chaper- officer of The Nordic Institute of Of course, Team Greenland is one Arina Kleist. “All the players Greenland, which co-ordinated also expected to do well in Arctic got real tired.” Greenland's 2008 cultural pro- sports, and has a top-notch table Also at this year's Games are six gram. tennis team. Their tennis players talented young Greenlandic cul- “If you didn't know the feel- are the only ones giving Team Ya- tural performers. They'll showcase ing of fear, so you could control mal a run for their money. “We are Greenland's culture with dance, it and react, you died when you normally one of the best to do well theatre, and sound during the cul- were confronted with something. in table tennis,” said Claus Nielson. tural galas on Thursday and Friday. Nature in Greenland, as in all Inuit McPhee Jennifer photo “The Russians are our rivals.” Greenland's performance, titled areas, is very beautiful, but it's Inaluk Rosing Petersen of the Team Greenland intermediate girls soccer team Along with the sports already Sila, features a stunning light show also very harsh.” nurses an injury during a match with Alaska on Tuesday. 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 3, March 12, 2008 ULU NEWS 1 3 around tHe games Athletes kept well-fed Chef Pierre and staff work hard to put 60,000 meals on the table

by Jennifer McPhee Games – consists of the same kind of food of- fered at the Winter Games. Lunch and t's chef Pierre LePage's job to ensure the dinner include two starches, two soups, meats, multitudes of hungry, growing athletes at vegetables and dessert. the 2008 Arctic Winter Games get enough It's too soon to say which foods will prove to eat. the most sought-after, but the kids seem to like It doesn't appear that this will pose a what they're getting so far, says LePage. “One Iproblem. The food and supplies that arrived kid came up to me, a little guy, and said, 'You for the Games filled 11 semi-trailers. should come home and teach my mom how to “More than 300 kilos of food came in,” said cook turkey'.” LePage on Saturday. Saami cultural performers Elle Sofe “The trailers came in on Wednesday and Hentiksen and Inger Biret Gaup stopped by nobody has slept since. We just found the pork the cafeteria for a quick bite after arriving in chops that are on the menu tomorrow.” Yellowknife on Saturday evening. In between The cafeteria was a vacant building until bites, Hentiksen said the food was “good.” LePage and his crew arrived late last week to Incredibly, LePage expects to serve almost start unpacking the pallets and setting up the 60,000 meals by the end of the games. About facility, which is located, fittingly, in the former 50 employees are working at the cafeteria and home of Extra Foods on Old Airport Road. at the downtown prep centre. LePage and his fleet of employees are His already-busy catering staff – roughly photo Merle Robillard serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner and another 50 employees – are preparing culinary participants can also graze on cheese and cold delights for receptions around town, and work- cuts between meals. The cafeteria is already ing at his two busy Yellowknife restaurants, Le a popular hang-out spot and the graffiti wall Frolic and L'Heritage. across from the entrance is getting more and Le Page is used to cooking high-end fare, so Pierre LePage of Chef Pierre’s Catering and his staff are preparing tens of thousands of meals more crowded. during the Arctic Winter Games. the cafeteria experience is a bit different, he The menu – supplied by the Arctic Winter says. “It's low-budget, high volume.” 14 ULU NEWS Issue 3, March 12, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games atHlete profile Pain and glory of competition Saami skier gives her all despite laundry list of injuries

by Jennifer McPhee of just 3,000. The town may be small, but a large number of skiers reside there, she said. his is Team Saami’s third time taking Partapuoli comes from a family of skiers, and part in the Arctic Winter Games has pictures of herself skiing before the age of and cross-country skier Marja-Liissa two. She started skiing even before that, and Partapuoli is the only member to was skiing competitively before she was eight compete in all three games. years old. TThe 18-year-old took home three silver “I love the feeling,” she says. “I like being medals and one bronze medal at the last two outside and I like to move. It’s always been like games in Fort McMurray, Alta., and Kenai, that. I love sports.” Alaska. Sometimes, though, in the middle of a race, When Ulu News spoke with her on Monday, she wonders why she does it. “That’s when it’s she was “a little nervous and excited” because really hard,” she says. “When I finish, I can’t she was about to compete in the five-kilome- wait until the next time. I forget all the pain. tre classic. I’m a little sadistic. I like pain.” “That’s my favourite,” she says. “This is the Over the years, she’s made many friends day that I am going to give the most.” from all over Alaska and the Yukon. “It’s fun to Partapuoli placed eighth in the event, likely meet them again,” she says. “Some of them because she is still recovering from a bad are not at these games.”

photo Jennifer McPhee throat infection, skied despite a knee injury, Yesterday, Partapuoli competed in the and recently almost broke her foot playing 750-metre sprint. Finally she will ski in the soccer in the snow. She said she was going to 10-kilometre skating competition on Thursday. try to ignore the pain in her knee and not let it This is Partapuoli’s last Arctic Winter hold her back. Games, something that makes her “a little Saami skier Marja-Liissa Partapuoli is passionate about cross-country skiing despite the pain Partapuoli is from Masjok, a Saami vil- sad,” but she may come back as a coach. “It it sometimes causes. lage in northern with a population has been very fun to be in the Games.” 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 3, March 12, 2008 ULU NEWS 1 5 atHlete profile

Alaska’s David Thomas demonstrates the technique used in the one hand reach. The goal of this Arctic sport is to balance your weight on one hand and touch a target with the Arctic sports T’seleie Daniel photo other. It may be hard to see, but Thomas’ legs are entirely off the ground. all about tradition Alaskan athlete’s skills passed down from generations

by Daniel T’seleie compete in kittik. “It's a huge sense of community and camaraderie.” ost of us have seen the Thomas is competing in impressive displays of physi- eight of the Arctic sports cal strength, stamina and events, but he is strongest endurance that are unique in the knuckle hop and one to Arctic sports, but not hand reach. He fully expects Meveryone is familiar with the culture and to make it to the final rounds traditions behind these games. of the one hand reach, and “These games are very old, they've been at 5'8 he says he will be one of passed on generation to generation,” says the shortest finalists in a sport Alaska's David Thomas. The where height matters. 21-year-old athlete is competing Technique is more in Arctic sports, and already has important than size, ac- nine ulus from previous years. We’d play cording to Thomas. He is not gunning to add to His biological father, his medal count, though. “These these games who taught him the games aren't like other sports, one hand reach, had a like cut-throat competition,” to lift our very interesting tech- Thomas says. He is more con- nique that Thomas has cerned with sharing his culture spirits. not seen anywhere else. and achieving a new personal “He balanced his entire body best, goals that are more in line weight on his finger tips,” with the traditional spirit of the games. he says, and adds the extra few inches of Thomas now lives in Palmer, Alaska, but height can make all the difference. he is an Inupiaq, from the Kotzebue area of Thomas is double jointed and has northwestern Alaska. Before the amenities trouble replicating his father's style. “You and securities of modern times, life on the have to be strong enough, and I can't do it, land was harsh and people had to be strong yet.” both physically and mentally. He learned kittik from his biological father “They had to be tough in order to survive, and adopted father, both of whom played. and these games would help prepare for He has shared this knowledge with that,” Thomas says. He cites the arm pull students in Anchorage and Palmer, and as an example. Two competitors sit facing with many people at the 2008 Arctic Winter each other, both linking the arm. When the Games. competition begins they both pull, the first “It's really neat because all of us one to let go loses. This game helps prepare come from the Arctic region, but all young hunters for pulling seals from the ice from different areas and some of after spearing them. these people have never seen The games, also known as kittik or the games we play,” anagtaq, are a traditional annual event for Thomas is competing the Inupiat of Alaska. There are, and always with a pinched nerve, have been, competitions every year near the which is “hindering” his winter solstice, known today as Christmas performance. But you games. wouldn't know this “During the darkest and coldest time of unless Thomas told the year, when you're that far north, the sun you, he's still as doesn't rise for about a month-and-a-half,” happy as a clam to Thomas says. “We'd play these games to lift be here. He came our spirits.” With only an hour or so of twi- to the Games for light each day, people did not travel much fun, and his biggest goal and preferred to stay in their camps and is to “leave with a smile.” gAmes Talk

which event is the most exciting to Kiana Palamar, 13, Yukon, Jordan Brass, 18, Alberta, chelsea comeau, 16, nWt, Simon ningeok, 16, nina ruckhaus, 14, watch? Arctic sports. volleyball basketball nunavik, Arctic sports Alaska, The Airplane, because it Soccer, because there are Basketball, because you Hockey, because I like to snowshoe biathalon shows a lot of strength and big crowds and a lot of can learn a lot and put it in play it and there’s a lot of Cross-country skiing, it’s cool the way they can action. I love it. your game. action. because it’s really fast and hold their bodies straight. looks very challenging. 16 ULU NEWS Issue 3, March 12, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games