NEWS ULUThe official newspaper of The winTer Games thursday, March 13, 2008 In today’s photo Merle Robillard ULU news… A world of culture A look at traditional and contemporary heritage … See pages 3, 7, 10, 15

Team Yamal athlete’s varied interests Girls and divides love … See page 14 Alaska surges in ulu count A look at the day’s highlights … See pages 3, 5, 11 medal count

Team Gold Silver Bronze Total

Alaska 39 29 42 110

Yamal 27 26 10 63

NWT 20 21 19 60

Yukon 16 11 18 45

N. 7 16 9 32

Nunavut 6 12 12 30

Nunavik 5 5 6 16

Saami 4 1 6 11

Greenland 3 5 3 11 Alexander Montgomery-Andersen of Kalaallit Crew performs at the 2008 Cultural Stage at Tree of Peace Friendship Centre. Also inside: a day in pictures • raven hunt • games talk 2 ULU NEWS Issue 4, March 13, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games arctic winter games venue map

SCHEDULE OF SPORTING EVENTS –THURSDAY MARCH 13 ArcTIc SporTS - St. Joe’s Gymnasium and Yk Arena - olympic Ice Surface TABle TennIS - range lake north Gymnasium Preliminaries 1:30p.m.-6:30p.m. Team Event Preliminary Rounds 9:00a.m.-1:00p.m. St. Joe’s Jr. One Foot 8:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Doubles Events - Gymnastics club 1:00p.m.-5:00p.m. St. Joe’s Open One Foot 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Mixed Doubles 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Women’s Individual Competition Finals - Yk Arena, courts 1 & 2 6:00p.m.-10:00p.m. Yk Arena All One Foot hockeY - Shorty Brown and olympic Ice Surfaces 11:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 N. Alberta vs 8:00a.m.-10:00a.m. Shorty Bantam NWT vs Alaska - Sir John Gymnasium 11:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 Alaska vs 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Shorty Female NWT vs Alaska 8:00a.m.-9:00p.m. Jr. Male/Female, Juvenile Male/Female 12:00p.m.-1:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 vs NWT Semi Finals #1 12:00p.m.-1:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 N. Alberta vs Greenland Mixed Doubles, Courts 1-4 12:00p.m. -2:30p.m. Shorty Midget 1st vs 4th Semi Finals - Weledeh Gymnasium Semi Finals #2 2:00p.m.-4:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 Ga.m.e 61: 2 vs 3 2:30p.m.-5:00p.m. Shorty Midget 2nd vs 3rd 1:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Jr. Male 1 vs 4 2:00p.m.-4:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 Ga.m.e 62: 2 vs 3 Semi Finals #1 3:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Jr. Female 1 vs 4 4:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Jr. Male Crt 1 Ga.m.e 63: 1 vs 4 5:00p.m.-7:30p.m. Shorty Bantam 1st vs 4th 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. Jr. Male 2 vs 3 4:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Jr. Female Crt 2 Ga.m.e 64: 1 vs 4 Semi Finals #1 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Jr. Female 2 vs 3 7:30p.m.-10:00p.m. Shorty Female 1st vs 4th - Mildred hall Gymnasium SkI - Yk Ski club Semi Finals #2 12:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Wrestling Tourna.m.ent 7:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Olympic Bantam 2nd vs 3rd 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m. 4 x 4.5km Relay Competition Semi Finals #2 croSS counTrY SkIInG - Yk Ski club 9:00p.m.-11:00p.m. Olympic Female 2nd vs 3rd athleteS’ activitieS 10:00a.m.-2:00p.m. Free Distance Mass Start Indoor Soccer - St. patrick’s Gymnasium Movie night (ages 14 and under) 8:00a.m.-9:00a.m. Juvenile Male Alaska vs Nunavut - Yk curling club Capitol Theatre 6.30p.m.-9.00p.m. 9:00a.m.-10:00a.m. Juvenile Male N. Alberta vs Yukon Playoffs 10:00a.m.-11:00a.m. Jr. Male Alaska vs Yukon Beach party (ages 15 and over) 9:30a.m.-12:20p.m. Jr. Male Game 21: 4 vs 5 11:00a.m.-12:00p.m. Jr. Male NWT vs Yamal Ruth Inch Memorial Pool 7.00p.m.-9.00p.m. Jr. Female Game 22: 4 vs 5 12:00p.m.-1:00p.m. Jr. Male Nunavut vs Greenland 2:30p.m.-5:30p.m. Jr. Male Game 23: 1 vs 2 1:00p.m.-2:00p.m. Jr. Female Nunavut vs Greenland Jr. Female Game 24: 1 vs 2 2:00p.m.-3:00p.m. Jr. Female Alaska vs Yukon cultural Schedule Jr. Male 25: 3 vs Winner of Jr. Male 21 3:00p.m.-4:00p.m. Juvenile Male Yukon vs NWT Jr. Female 26: 3 vs Winner of Jr. Female 22 performing Arts cultural Gala evenings 4:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Juvenile Male Alaska vs N. Alberta GAMeS - dettah 5:00p.m.-6:00p.m. Juvenile Female Yukon vs NWT Northern Arts and Cultural Centre 8:00 p.m. Pole Push 6:00p.m.-7:00p.m. Juvenile Female Alaska vs N. Alberta Visual Arts Art Installation project 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m. Intermediate Female Alaska vs Yukon 10:00a.m.-12:30p.m. Jr. Male Kimberlite Centre 10:00a.m.–6:00p.m. Jr. Female 8:00p.m.-9:00p.m. Intermediate Female NWT vs Saami 9:00p.m.-10:00p.m. Intermediate Female Nunavut vs Greenland Visual Arts contingent Visual Arts exhibition 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Juvenile Female Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre 10:00a.m.–6:00 p.m. Open Male - Bristol pit 4:30p.m.-5:00p.m. FINALS 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Big Air Visual Arts “creartik” Elks Hall 12:00p.m.–8:00 p.m. doG MuShInG - Back Bay - olympic Ice Surface 11:00a.m.-12:30p.m. Juvenile Team 4 Dog, 7.5km 8:00a.m.-1:00p.m. 666m Juvenile Visual Arts Art of the Spectator exhibition 2:00p.m.-3:30p.m. Co-ed Jr. Team 6 Dog, 10km 777m Junior Tree of Peace 12:00p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Full schedule and results can be found at the Arctic Winter Games website awg2008.ca 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 4, March 13, 2008 ULU NEWS 3 daily wrap-up A strong day for Nunavut NWT takes skating ulu, golden at Dene games

by Lisa Scott Multiplex was the place to be Tues- The junior male category had day night as athletes competed in some slips as favourite Angus eam NWT held it together the 500-metre finals for juvenile Smith of NWT went down early, in Wednesday’s competi- and junior male and female. Han- followed shortly after by Manasie tion as the games entered nah Clark of the NWT won gold Kendall of Nunavut. That left Troy the halfway point. The in the juvenile girls, while Dayna Henry of the Yukon to take gold, speed skating oval at the Polakoff took the bronze. Ryan Mahler of NWT silver and T Kendall with the bronze. On the women’s side, Marie Auger won her first ulu of the Games after slipping up in the 1,000-metre on Monday. Auger took gold, with Nu- navut’s Sarah Ali coming in second and Stephanie Bourgois of NWT taking the bronze.

“It’s pretty tough. It’s really Lisa Scott photos stressful,” said Auger after the NWT’s John Stewart competes in the open male finger pull against Nunavik’s competition. Auger hopes to snag Ned Gordon at the Dene games on Wednesday. gold in the remaining 777-metre, on the mat today at the wrestling foot high kick with a jump of 5’8”. 1,500-metre and 3,000-metre venue racking up nine ulus in Nunavik also saw competi- relay later this week. individual competition. Joe Karetak tion at the snowshoe venue, as NWT figure skaters were shut won gold in the men’s 52 kg, while its four players competed in the out of the medals in the freeskate Blaine Ell won gold in the men’s 82 sprint events. Norman Angnatuk and combined short program/ kg class. Their teammates padded competed, but was pulled out by freeskate today, as posted out the medal winnings with four his coaches on Wednesday morn- some incredible routines. Lisa Do silvers and three bronzes for the ing with a calf strain. He hopes to placed fourth in the combined day. The team had an awesome be back in competition by Friday ladies 3. placing in the team competition for the long distance events – his Dog mushing started on the day before, winning a silver, favourite. Wednesday and Stephanie Charlie just losing out to Team Alaska. “He’s probably disappointed, won gold in the 7.5-kilometre The team also had a strong but we want to make sure he four dog juvenile race. Team NWT showing in Arctic sports, with heals,” said mission staff Julie prevailed in the 10-kilometre, gold going to Sean Nipisar in the Grenier. six-dog race as well, with Alexis two-foot high kick open male With some technical glitches at Campbell and Jason Baxter taking category and to Ronald Anawak the snowshoe track, some of the gold and silver. Mushing continues for the juniors. On the girls side on sprint races and earlier races had Thursday. Wednesday Susie Pearce took the to be redone on Wednesday, one silver ulu in a large field of open of the coldest days of competition. Nunavut women in the triple jump with a Everything was back on schedule Manasie Kendall of Nunavut jump of 22’9”. by the afternoon. won his second bronze medal of In the Dene games tent the these Games in the 500-metre Nunavik finger pull was on the schedule for junior male race on Tuesday night. Team Nunavik is building mo- Wednesday. Sandy Annanack won His teammate Sarah Ali added mentum as the Games continue. a silver medal in the junior male another medal to her cache in the Deseray Cumberbatch is living up finger pull, with teammate Junior 500-metre as well, placing second to the hopes of her team, winning Lingard winning the bronze. to NWT’s Marie Auger. Nunavut’s two gold and one silver ulu by In the open male category David Coulombe won the silver ulu Wednesday. Mario Rupert won gold, while Paul in the juvenile male race earlier in Cumberbatch won the Arctic Savard won silver. On the female Nunavik’s William Annanack competes in the combined juvenile male snowshoe on Wednesday. The teams had a cold day to contend with at the the evening. sports arm pull and triple jump for side, Maakula Tukkiapik won a Golf Club. Team Nunavut had a hot day junior female, as well as the two- bronze medal. culture feature band brings the noise Astronotes’ progressive sound a ‘spaceship crashing into a rock stadium’ by Daniel T’seleie pecting something a little lower on they got the gig they realized they the decibel scale. But the feedback needed a band. So, about three s soon as you enter Sir John (excuse the pun) has all been good. months ago, they recruited Dexter Franklin high school you can “People have been covering their and Harrison. Since then the band Ahear it. Electric guitar, ampli- ears, but we've been hearing noth- has written four original songs for fied vocals and solid drumming ing but nice things,” Dashiell said. the Arctic Winter Games, and have emanating from the Northern Arts The Astronotes are the cultural been performing every day during and Cultural Centre. Drawn in by representatives for Team Alberta lunch hour at NACC. distortion, this reporter bravely North, and it's a very interesting Despite the minimal prep time enters the fray, and the first thing culture. “[Our music] sounds like and a broken guitar that had to he sees is a man plugging his ears a space ship crashing into a rock be replaced by a loaner, the As- with his fingers. stadium,” said guitarist Dexter tronotes have adapted quite well “I told them to hand out Dronyk. to their venue. The equipment is earplugs at the door,” announces The band says their progressive- great, the sound tech is good and bassist Dashiell Dronyk after the alternative sound is an accurate the acoustics rock. “It sounds a song is finished. “You're very good, representation of the area. “It's million times better here,” Dashiell but too loud,” shouts a voice from loud, it's sometimes confusing, but said, comparing NACC to their the audience. “There you have it, that pretty much sums up Grande setup at home. Alberta music is loud,” responds Prairie,” Dashiell said. The band will be playing the guitarist Harrison Koehli before Dashiell and drummer Thomas big cultural gala tonight, and they launching the band into another Grosset have been jamming may even hand out some of the song. together for years, and have even band's T-shirts. “We'll give them It's a familiar story for the T’seleie Daniel photo recorded a soundtrack for a short out to whoever rocks the hard- The Astronotes, from left: Guitarist Harrison Koehli, drummer Thomas rockers. Families film. They used the soundtrack est,” Dexter said. If that's the only Grosset, guitarist Dexter Dronyk and bassist Dashiell Dronyk. As you can see, have been bringing babies to the as their audition for the role of criterion, the band may end up the band takes their role as Team Alberta North’s cultural representatives lunch time shows, mistakenly ex- Team Alberta's cultural reps. Once keeping them. very seriously. 4 ULU NEWS Issue 4, March 13, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 4, March 13, 2008 ULU NEWS 5 daily wrap-up Alaskans widen ulu lead Yukon scores gold in biathlon, Alberta in snowboarding

by Daniel T’seleie ingame also made the hat-trick, taking the gold ulu in the 7.5-kilo- fter the third day of metre senior male's mass start. competition, Team He considers the individual Alaska is expanding its starts to be his strongest event, ulu lead. and was anxious before the start The biathlon, ski of the race. With a time of 27 Aand snowshoe teams continue to minutes 10.1 seconds he finished perform well. Snowshoe biathlete just 42 seconds before Team Mackenzie Wonders says team Yamal's Vitaly Gordievskykh. This spirit plays a part in their suc- is Burlingame’s first Games and cess, the athletes keep each other he's been shooting well, which is pumped up for competition. She helping his time even if he isn't the placed second in yesterday's three- fastest skier. “I had no idea what kilometre junior female mass start to expect,” Burlingame said. “I event, taking her third silver ulu of surprised myself.” the Games. The dog mushers also had an The medals don't come easily, exciting day. Rachel Kinvig finished however. Cold weather has made it the 7.5-kilometre four dog juvenile Robbie Rebus gets some good air difficult for the Alaskan to zero the co-ed race in 14 minutes and 16 during the junior male rail jam. The sight on her rifle, and the compe- seconds, beating NWT's Stephanie rider from Team Alberta North says tition is fierce. “It's tough, those Charlie by a slim four seconds. the NWT and Alaska are putting up NWT girls are pushing me so much, Team Alberta has made them- some tough competition. they're amazing,” she said. selves known at Bristol Pit. Even course again and you're warmed Alaskan wrestlers came out in the announcer has commented on up,” Rebus said. But the other force yesterday and won 12 ulus in the “strong riders” from the team.

teams are putting up a good fight. T’seleie Daniel photos the individual events, nine of them The snowboarders brought in “There's some good riders here,” Alaska’s Mackenzie Wonders, front, gets off to a good start in the three- gold. three more ulus yesterday. Rebus said. kilometre junior female mass start snowshoe biathlon. She finished second Team Yukon continues to excel Most of the team is competing Boarders from the NWT and and took her third silver ulu of the Games. in outdoor snow sports, winning in all the snowboarding events, Alaska have been giving Team Al- “We're undefeated now, we've were “pretty close.” gold ulus in ski biathlon, cross and boarder Robbie Rebus says the berta North a run for their money won two and tied one,” said Since the interview, the team country skiing, dog mushing and team is doing, “good so far.” He on the slope, Rebus said. Hayden Grace, who plays right had a big win over Team Nunavut snowshoeing. Skier Dahria Beatty says it's fairly cold here, but with Alberta's hockey players are wing. putting their record at three wins won her third gold yesterday in the such a short run it isn't much of an also doing well. The bantam male The team tied the Yukon and and one tie, and advancing them 2.5-kilometre free midget female issue for the team. “It's a smaller team is leading in the round robin beat Alaska and the NWT, but to the semi-finals. “I think we'll fin- division. Ski biathlete Ryan Burl- hill, you just run up there to hit the tournament. Grace says the matches ish fairly high,” Grace said. 6 ULU NEWS Issue 4, March 13, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 4, March 13, 2008 ULU NEWS 7 cultural feature A break from tradition Yukon brings one-of-a-kind cultural show to AWG by Daniel T’seleie The Ensemble has plenty of experience to fall back on. Most of them have been dancing he Yukon decided to demonstrate together for five years. a contemporary and unique aspect They were inspired when a dance troupe of their culture at the 2008 Arctic from Toronto visited Whitehorse, and have Winter Games. been hitting the pavement, literally, ever “Our show is totally differ- since. They dance anywhere and everywhere, Tent from anything anyone else is doing,” even on the streets. You may have seen them says Riley Simpson-Fowler of Whitehorse’s at some of the venues carrying around their Groundwork Sessions Funk Ensemble. The boom box. dance group was chosen to be Team Yukon’s “If we can get our hands on music, then cultural representatives at the AWG and has we use it,” Reti says. been demonstrating hip-hop, trance and “Dancing with the music adds to the ef- break dancing throughout the week. fect of it,” adds Ben Robinson. You may have seen them perform at the With 10 to 15 hours of practice a week opening ceremonies with local rapper Aaron the Ensemble’s moves are pretty impres- “Godson” Hernandez. The performance was sive. Almost half of their practice time is remarkable enough, but the most impressive dedicated to strength and flexibility training, part is that the group only had one week to which is necessary considering break dancing learn the song and choreograph a routine. is physically demanding. “We just took choreography that we “You just have to stay flexible [to avoid already had and mixed it together,” Simpson- injury],” Reti says. Fowler says. He makes it sound so easy, but The Ensemble, composed of Reti, when you dance to music you have to know Simpson-Fowler, Jada Powell, Ben Robinson, the song. “[The music] is very important, Alex Robinson and Graylee Freeman, will be it’s top,” says Jordan Reti, a member of the performing at tonight’s cultural gala to the photo Merle Robillard photo group. beats of DJ Kelvin Smoler. Riley Simpson-Fowler of The Ground Work Sessions Funk Ensemble performs at NACC Tuesday. Songs change with the times Tunes touch on foraging, basketball

by Daniel T’seleie mer parkas. They are lighter than winter clothes and the hoods are designed to fend hen the Mt. Edgecumbe Yup’ik off mosquitoes rather than cold air. This is dancers were chosen to be the fitting, seeing as how the band performed a Wcultural representatives for Team song and dance piece about gathering bird Alaska they had planned to bring eight danc- eggs on the tundra. “A lot of the songs have ers and drummers. Due to passport problems stories behind them,” said drummer Jason only four of them made it, but you would Bavilla. never know the group was performing at a The dancers, all from Mt. Edgecumbe reduced capacity. They have a remarkable boarding school in Sitka, have stuck to their ability to fill a room with music and captivate traditional roots, kept it real, if you will, an audience with dance, all to the beat of which is fitting considering they are all Yup’ik one drum. from Eastern Alaska. “Yup’ik means real “It's traditional that the males drum,” people,” Bavilla says. Their cultural ground- says singer and dancer Grace Lyn Johnson. ing and skilled performances have not gone If anything this group is traditional, and only unnoticed back home. “Our dance group is one male made it to Yellowknife, NWT. known throughout the state,” Bavilla says. The group performs in Qaspeqs, sum- They're true to the tra- ditional style of music and dance, but the group has been experimenting with some new content for the songs. The songs have always been about daily life. This used to mean fishing, hunting and foraging, but times have changed. Nowadays daily life might involve a game of basketball. Indeed the group photo Merle Robillard has written a song about this sport, in the traditional style, of course. There's no formula for writing Yup’ik songs. You Whitney Walker, left, Gracelyn Johnson and Emilyann White of need inspiration, vision and the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Yup’ik Dance Group from Alaska direction. Ultimately the end perform at the Arctic Winter Games 2008 Cultural Stage at the result “depends on what you Tree of Peace Friendship Centre. want it to be,” Bavilla said. 8 ULU NEWS Issue 4, March 13, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games photo digest photo s Merle Robillard s Merle Robillard photo Celina Gulpe Farmer of Team Alaska receives a gold medal during The cold weather Wednesday morning shows itself through ice crystals on the eyelashes of Brandon Norris of Team NWT after the ceremony for the combined short/freeskate figure skating at the the Arctic Winter Games junior male snowshoe biathlon three-kilometre mass start. Yellowknife Multiplex.

Rachel Kinvig of Team Yukon crosses the finish line with the best time in the Arctic Winter Games coed, 7.5-kilometre, juvenile dog mushing on Back Bay in Yellowknife.

Sunny Patch, Team Yukon dog mushing mission staff, celebrates Rachel Kinvig’s first-place finish during the Juvenile, coed, 7.5-kilometre dog mushing event on Back Bay Wednesday morning.

Alea Stockton of Team NWT competes in the figure skating long program at the Yellowknife Multiplex. 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 4, March 13, 2008 ULU NEWS 9 photo digest

Alberta North’s Mitchell Ray Cote digs for the ball during junior male volleyball The traditional Greenland group Kalaallit perform at the Arctic Winter Games 2008 Cultural Stage at Tree of Peace at the Arctic Winter Games 2008. Friendship Centre.

Jasmine Netsena of NWT performs at the Arctic Winter Games 2008 Cultural Stage at Tree of Peace Friendship Centre.

Alicia Norris of Team NWT is the first to cross

photo s Merle Robillard s Merle Robillard photo the finish line in the Arctic Winter Games junior Fifteen-year-old John Semple, left, and Alex Gordon, 26, of the Aklavik Drummers perform at the Arctic Winter female snowshoe Biathlon three-Kilometre mass Games 2008 Cultural Stage at Tree of Peace Friendship Centre. start at Yellowknife Ski Club. 10 ULU NEWS Issue 4, March 13, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games culture feature Behind many masks Greenland’s demonstrates the enrapturing art of mask dancing, Yamal does the dance of the Shaman, Saami yoik

by Jennifer McPhee

reenland's cultural performances began with a lone mask- dancer sitting on stage, painting his face, and Gexplaining the symbolism behind this ancient Inuit tradition. But then the spooky spectacle really took off. Several other painted perform- ers crept down the aisle towards the stage, slowly moving their arms, and looking around. Their faces were contorted into creepy expressions; their eyes were un- naturally buggy; and their cheeks bulged out because of sticks inside their mouths. As they danced on stage, they stared each other down, eventually edging closer and closer to audience members – growling and hissing at them. It was a truly riveting and frightening theatrical performance. So good that artistic director Ruth Andersen-Montgomery was in tears by the end of the show. The artists just learned the art of mask dancing, she explained. They not only learned the dance, but really made it their own. Wednesday was the group's last-mask dance show, and they gave it everything they had, says performer Maliina Jensen. The hardest part was keeping up the fierce facade, adds Marie Kahlig. Greenland's gala performance tonight and tomorrow mixes photo Merle Robillard photo ancient traditions with contempo- Yoiker Inger Biret Gaup, left, and dancer Elle Sofe Henriksen blend traditional Saami music and dance with contemporary style. rary dance, lighting and sound. The contingent's show begins with a but with respect for its history, ex- seeing their response.” deer hide. Sometimes they beat Saami cultural performers 35-second sample from local Yel- plains Anders Berndtsson, NAPA's The Yamal cultural contingent each others' drums to show the will hit the stage at the cultural lowknife rapper Aaron Hernandez chief executive officer. – Yalymad – showcased folklore, communication between Sha- gala Thursday and Friday night at (“Godson”) shouting out, “Wel- “It brings our roots forward in stylized songs, dances, traditional mans. Dancer Natasha Tynzyanova the Northern Arts and Cultural come to Yellowknife City.” a different way,” he says. “I think rites and rituals of the indigenous also joined them on stage; Daria Centre. Elle Sofe Hentiksen, Inger The Nordic Institute of Green- it's going to be interesting for the peoples of Yamal. Their perfor- Pervushina sang traditional songs Biret Gaup, and Ol-Julian Gaup, land (NAPA) coordinated Green- Yellowknife audience, and a little mances included a Shaman's dance about love, and about children will show off the traditional Saami land's 2008 cultural program, and bit different from the others … We where instructor Stepan Zinchenko playing with a puppy; and Mar- singing – Yoiking. Team leader Hen- NAPA's approach is to represent are looking forward to meeting and Alexander Buslovsky danced garita Bezhenvtsa recited poetry tiksen will also off some dancing in Greenland in an up-to-date way, the local Yellowknife people and to and beat drums made out of rein- about modern Northern life. the performance. 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. Yesterday’s winners hints • Shawna Lampii-Legaree • For a choco treat or something sweet • Jeanne Marie Yurris, Team NWT • Shake a rattle, pluck a string- things to help • Rose Scott • Home of the fashion diva • Aimee Yurris, Team NWT you when you sing. • Shawn Mackenzie • Yellowknife’s downtown underground • Madison Pilling, Team NWT • Skate or Board, swim or ski, come here for • Bonnie Madsen your sporting needs. • Hibernate before you head down into Old • Keith MacNeil, NWT Resident • Astrid Kruse • There are no vintages on its racks, but books Town are piled high in stacks • A gamer’s coffee raven artists • Terry Pamplin • While downtown getting your coffee fix, • You will not find any downtown software • Donna Shreiner • Vivian Gustafson drop off your film for great pics here. • Ann Timmins • Jordan Martin (Carver) 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 4, March 13, 2008 ULU NEWS 1 1 daily wrap-up Saami soccer comes back Greenland, Yamal on win streaks

by Jennifer McPhee solid performance in Arctic sports Team Yamal had a stellar day in yesterday. biathlon and cross country skiing, fter losing a game to Edgar Markussen won a silver winning gold and silver medals Team Yukon yesterday, triple jump medal in the junior in the five-kilometre biathlon ski the Saami girls inter- male category, and Pilo Rasmus- mass start junior male category, mediate soccer team sen took the bronze triple jump and silver and bronze in the junior bounced back beating medal in the open male category. female category. In the seven-and- AGreenland, 4-1. Anne Solbritt Logje Rasmussen's twin brother, Minik a-half kilometre mass start senior says she was a little nervous head- Rasmussen, placed fourth in the male category, Team Yamal won ing into yesterday's game after open male triple jump. silver and also won bronze in the losing the night before. “We had Both twins were gunning for female category. bad luck,” she says “We were bet- gold and were disappointed with In cross-country skiing, Team ter than them.” their performance yesterday. Yamal won gold and silver in the Soccer coach Bengt Are Jensen They're both considered strong female juvenile five-kilometre said the girls played their best soc- contenders to win the head pull competition, and took silver cer ever during the game they lost. and knuckle hop competitions and bronze in the male juvenile Afterwards, players from other later in the week. category. In the free junior female teams commented on the Saami Greenland's junior boys soccer seven-and-a-half kilometre compe- team's soccer skills, speed and team continued its impressive tition, Team Yamal took the gold technical strength, he said. He's winning streak yesterday, beat- and silver medals. The junior males pleased that the girls won their ing Team Yamal, 5-1, said mission racked up gold, silver and bronze match yesterday. staff person Finn Nielsen. The metals. Grigory Laptander won “We're back on track,” he says. team hasn't lost a game so far. The gold, Vadim Filimonov won silver “We are difficult to beat. The ones girls intermediate soccer team, and Ruslan Fakhurtdinov won that beat us in the end must be however, didn't fare as well, losing bronze, sweeping the junior male good.” again yesterday to Team Saami. five-kilometre free division. Team Saami also took another Team Yamal's Oleg Ivantsiv won Yamal's figure skaters won med- gold medal in cross-country skiing the gold medal in the open male als in every category in the free McPhee Jennifer photo yesterday when Oyvind Erich- triple jump category. The team skate competition, winning silver From left to right: Marina Komarova and Ruslana Perepelitsa continued to sen won the five-kilometre free also secured an unexpected medal in ladies one and two, gold and impress with their table tennis abilities. juvenile male category. This brings in snowboarding when Evgeniy bronze in ladies three, and gold in In snowshoeing, Team Yamal also continued to impress. By Saami's medal count up to eleven – Ivanov won bronze in the rail jam ladies four. In the combined ladies won silver in the combined junior midday Wednesday, juvenile girls four gold, one silver and six bronze juvenile male category. “That was competition, the team won silver mix category, and won silver in tennis player Ruslana Perepelitsa – says Saami chef de mission Aslak a surprise to us,” said assistant in ladies one and two; gold and the snowshoeing combined junior was still wining all her games. “It's Paltto. chef Yana Vrublevskaya. “We were bronze in ladies three; and gold male category. not even interesting because it's so Team Greenland continued its not expecting it.” and gold in ladies four. Team Yamal's table tennis team easy,” she says. 12 ULU NEWS Issue 4, March 13, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games games talk

Julie Mcdonell, edward hurtte, khang Manh pham, 12, 15, snowshoe, 15, table tennis, table tennis, Yukon what do you Alberta Alaska The food is very good. I The food is very There is a lot of especially like the Jell-O think about the well-cooked and food, and a lot of and lasagna. there is a lot of var- variety. food in the awg iety. I loved the hot chocolate. cafeteria?

Wesley Attagutsiak, 30, dene games, nunavut The food is excellent and makes your stomach full. They have everything, fruits and vegetables, meats, all that stuff.

Stepan Zinchenko, 24, cul- tural delegation, Yamal Everything is a lot differ- ent. I feel like a student in a North American high school like I’ve seen on television. 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 4, March 13, 2008 ULU NEWS 1 3 athlete profile Jumping to new heights Nunavik athlete eyes the competition

by Lisa Scott junior boys gold with a jump of seven feet even. That’s four inches lek Airo entered these less than Airo’s jump in 2006. This Games with two golden year though, the athlete is facing ulus already in his some tough competition from pocket. The Nunavik Alaska, Nunavut and Greenland. athlete came to the This is good. Airo also competes in the A2008 Games with the goal of not Alaskan high kick, the kneel jump just winning a medal, but breaking It’s exciting. and the triple jump in the Arc- some records along the way. tic sports. He says the one-foot The 5'10” 17-year-old from the high kick is his favourite because community of Kuujjuaq com- it’s where he does his best and petes in Arctic sports, one of the everyone always likes to watch the favourite spectator sports at the event. The one-foot event won’t Games. be held until tomorrow at 1 p.m. Competing in the well-attended high kick finals unfolded at the at Ecole St. Joseph, so Airo will competitions, like the one- and packed Yellowknife Community have to wait until then to see if he two-foot high kick, takes skill, Arena Tuesday night, Airo watched can add to his medal count. nerves and the athlete’s ability to from the sidelines with his team- Tuesday night, as the two-foot take the crowd’s encouragement mates as the junior boys reached high kick came down to the final and use it to their advantage. Airo for the seal flipper in a quest for athletes, Nunavut’s Sean Nipisar, won gold in the one and two-foot the medal he took home two Alaska’s David Thomas and Airo high kick in the junior category at years ago. were all in contention for the gold the 2006 games in Alaska, with “This is good. It’s exciting,” with jumps of 7’10”. Nipisar ended photo Lisa Scott jumps of 8’6” and 7’4” respec- he says. “They’re pretty good,” up taking the win by jumping to tively. he concedes, but adds that they eight feet in the final, leaving Airo is now in the open male aren’t as good as he was back Thomas to take the silver ulu at category, where the competition then. He was right too, as Ron- 7’8” and Airo to take the bronze at Alek Airo competed in the Arctic sports event for team Nunavik at these Games. can be pretty stiff. As the two-foot ald Anawak of Nunavut took the the same height. 14 ULU NEWS Issue 4, March 13, 2008 2008 Arctic Winter Games competition is great, but girls are better Yamal player a giant in table tennis by Jennifer McPhee He's also very excited about since he was 13. the upcoming dances. It's very Unsurprisingly, Turubanov has ixteen-year-old Egor important for him to be there, he won every match he's played at Turubanov loves winning says. He doesn't want to meet any these Games. “It's not difficult at table tennis matches, but new girls; he just wants to dance all,” he says. there's something else he with the ones he's already met. But At the 2006 Arctic Winter likes just as much – girls. he's definitely not ready for com- Games in Alaska, Turubanov won The best thing about the Arctic S mitment. He likes girls in general two gold, and two silver medals McPhee Jennifer photo Winter Games is all the young too much to choose only one, he in the four events in his category. Team Yamal table tennis player Egor Turubanov wishes he could stay in women, says the stellar Team explains. “That's very true.” He's good at the sport because he Yellowknife longer Yamal table tennis player. He likes After the interview Ulu News practises so much, and because to the translated interview beg to interrupted the translated inter- Russian and Alaskan girls the most. discovered due to a lack of venue of his “great desire” to win. It also differ]. But one thing is certain: he view, he interrupted right back, The worst thing about the Games space there won't be an athlete's helps that he's tall because it al- is a top-notch table tennis player. saying, “Next question, please.” is that boys and girls stay at differ- dance this year. This news may lows him to reach further for the Part of what makes him so good He's having a great time in ent schools, he says. disappoint Turubanov, but he may ball. is that he adjusts his game to take Yellowknife and wouldn't mind Alas, this doesn't give him many equally enjoy the replacement He is absolutely certain that the advantage of the weaknesses of spending another two or three opportunities to communicate beach party at the pool scheduled Team Yamal boys will win at least other players, says Metro Huculak, weeks here. with pretty girls, but he's seizing for tonight. three gold medals and one silver a volunteer and avid spectator, The people are very friendly, he every chance that comes his way. Playing table tennis at the Arctic medal in the four table tennis who used to play table tennis likes the atmosphere and the town He doesn't speak English, but Winter Games isn't much of a chal- events in his age bracket, but it's himself. is very nice, he says. Of course, has mastered a few words and lenge for this young athlete. quite possible they'll win all four Turubanov also adores the lime- he's also very passionate about phrases so that he can communi- He started playing the sport gold medals, he says. light. He was thrilled to be inter- Russia. cate with English-speaking girls and when he was seven-years-old, and He's also a very modest person, viewed for a story in Ulu News, and “Russia is the best,” he says. other athletes. One of the words has practised for two-and-a-half he points out [a group of female jokingly fixed his hair before his “Russia is number one. And he knows is “beautiful.” hours each day, six days a week, Team Yamal tennis players listening photo was taken. When someone is a very nice country.” 2008 Arctic Winter Games Issue 4, March 13, 2008 ULU NEWS 1 5 cultural feature Sweet sounds of tradition Fiddling, drumming and jigging a look at NWT culture

by Lisa Scott

anessa Sanguez hasn’t quite honed her fiddling to be able to play her favourite Red River jig song, so she gets up on stageV and jigs to it instead. The 19-year-old originally from Jean Marie River, is a cultural per- former with Team NWT, perform- ing every other day with fiddler Wesley Hardisty. The artists are an enthusiastic duo, both sharing a love for the music and the tradition of fiddling and dancing. Sanguez has energy in her danc- ing that transfers into the crowd. She learned the craft at a jamboree and has been practicing at carnivals in various communities every since. “I keep doing it ‘til I’m really good at it,” she says. “I like to just dance around.” She’s been pleasantly surprised by the adoring crowds, happily dancing and fiddling at venues like the Tree of Peace, the Baker Centre and the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre. Her performing partner Wesley Hardisty is just 14 and has been playing for only a year. His quick skills on the fiddle have caught the attention of musi- Lisa Scott photo The Aklavik Youth Drummers and Dancers have been entertaining crowds all week, showcasing NWT culture. cians in the territory and he found himself representing NWT at the “It’s all he does and he loves it,” ear, learning new songs as he goes. mers and Dancers, clad in beautiful breaking spring ice with a canoe. Games. Hardisty hails from Fort she says. He likes being able to play music black and white parkas decorated With the strong beat of the Simpson. “I just watched the fiddle once in the traditional way of the Dene, with fur. This group mixes up danc- drums, this group always gets the His chaperone Karen Gelderman and I felt like I had to learn to play,” learning the history of his people ing with drumming, showcasing crowd going with their music, even says he is amazing to watch and is says Hardisty. along the way. Team NWT also their Inuvialuit history in songs inviting them to join in the dance truly dedicated to the music. He taught himself and plays by brought the Aklavik Youth Drum- about loons, wood chopping and movements. culture, with a mix of new and old Nunavut and Nunavik share throat singing, with a little bit of jazz thrown in

by Lisa Scott “They think we’re just doing tra- ditional, but we’re not,” she said. unavik brought a refreshing For the traditional element, mix of modern and tradi- throat singers Elisapee Nassak and Ntional culture to the Arctic Ina Annahatak of Kangirsuk are also Winter Games. All week the Kuujj- travelling with the group. The girls uaq Dance Squad and the Nunavik have been singing together for five Throat Singers have been mixing it years and have a lot of experience up on stage, combining jazz danc- performing in front of crowds like ing with the traditional singing of those at the Games. In 2007, they the Inuit. performed for the Jennifer Matchett- Premier of , Tasse, the dance squad Jean Charest when he instructor, started the visited Nunavik. group of modern danc- I like to share Also on the stage ers five years ago at a our culture this week have been youth drop in centre. the Nunavut cul- Candace Combden, show through tural participants. Anne Marie Kuaki, Lar- Six members of the issa Annahatak, Amelia talents. Tusarniq Choir from Whiteley-Tukkiapik Rankin Inlet have been and Sophie Tukalak performing much to have some impressive the crowds’ delight. moves on the stage, performing After each performance, the group Greased Lightning in 1950-style always gets cheers and whistles poodle skirts and rouged cheeks. from the audience. The routine still reflects their Noah Tiktak is the choir man- culture, even though the song is an ager and founder, having started English one from the popular musi- the group last fall to boost youth Lisa Scott photo cal Grease. Matchett-Tasse calls involvement in Inuit culture. The Kuujjuaq Dance Squad performed the jazz routine Greased Lightning as part of the Nunavik cultural program. it a modern jazz take on Inuktitut “I just want to share the Inuit music. culture with youth and with anyone but the girls and one male drum- “[The crowd] liked it. I like to today and Friday, divulging that “I think it’s neat to show else who is ready to learn,” he says. mer also throw in a few they made share our culture and to show our they had songs they had not sung other people our own culture. They The crowds at the cultural venues up themselves. Charmaine Okatsiak talents,” she says. yet for the crowds. might come and check it [Nunavik] certainly seemed ready to learn. has enjoyed the whole week and is The group made sure that they “We saved our best songs and out,” said Sophie Tukalak before a The group sings mostly tradi- happy to show others her form of saved some energy for the final performances for the galas,” says lunchtime performance. tional throat songs like The River, singing. gala performances, scheduled for Tiktak.