Games Kick Off with a Party

powered by The official newspaper of The arcTic winTer Games March 19, 2018 Games kick off with a party Yukon athlete aims to break record The Arctic Winter Games flame is lit Team profiles of Nunavut and Alberta North Thorsten Gohl photo <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">2 ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 </li><li style="flex:1">ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 3 </li></ul>Let the Arctic Winter Games begin TJ Kaskamin of Fort Good Hope carries the NWT flag into the March 18 opening ceremony in Hay River for the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games. Paul Bickford/NNsL photo Arctic Winter Games launched with ceremony in Hay River <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">by Paul Bickford Winter Games Host Society, </li><li style="flex:1">Lynn Napier-Buckley of Fort Winter Olympics in Pyeong- Olympic Games." </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Smith, Chief Roy Fabian of Chang, South Korea – wel- </li><li style="flex:1">The late Pat Bobinski, a the evening included the </li></ul>K'atlodeeche First Nation and coming the athletes to his Hay River volunteer who was Hay River Filipino March- <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Kristy Duncan, the federal hometown. </li><li style="flex:1">instrumental in developing the ing Band, The JBT Jiggers </li></ul>The entertainment for Northern News services recalled the region's failed <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">After years of planning </li><li style="flex:1">attempt to obtain the games </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">for 2008. </li><li style="flex:1">and work, the 2018 South </li></ul>Slave Arctic Winter Games officially kicked off with a flashy opening ceremony on March 18 in the brand-new recreation centre in Hay River. Close to 1,900 athletes from across the circumpolar world gathered in Hay River for the opening ceremonies, including about 800 competing in Fort Smith who were bussed in just for the event and returned after it was over. Nine teams – from Canada, Alaska, Scandinavia, Greenland and Russia – marched in one-by-one to the cheers of Hay River residents and fellow competitors. At the end of the ceremony, Jens Brinch, the president of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, declared the 2018 games officially open. "To all the athletes and participants, I say do your best in the competitions and performances," he said. On behalf of the Arctic Winter Games International Committee, Brinch also thanked the people who worked to make the games possible – volunteers, sponsors and members of host society. Prior to the declaration to open the games, there was a fast-moving ceremony featuring music, dancing and numerous inspirational messages. Greg Rowe, the president of the 2018 South Slave Arctic "With renewed vision and a lot of determination we bid on the 2018 games, and here we are today," he said. Rowe also especially thanked the Town of Hay River and its recreation board for its support, and the town's construction of its new recreation centre which opened just days before the games began. "This spectacular facility is one of our greatest legacies of the games," he said. In a video message, Premier Bob McLeod noted that Hay River and Pine Point had hosted the Arctic Winter Games in 1978. "Now 40 years later the games are back in the South Slave region where I know the communities of Hay River, Fort Smith and K'atlodeeche First Nation will serve as tremendous hosts and show all that this region has to offer," he said. McLeod challenged the athletes to use the games to help develop their characters, and become more confident, responsible individuals and leaders in their communities. "To Team NWT athletes, you are our ambassadors. Represent your team and our territory with honour and pride," he said, adding they should do their best and always compete with fairness and integrity. Welcome messages were also played from Mayor Brad Mapes of Hay River, Mayor minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities. "I'm proud to say that sport of biathlon in the NWT from Fort Smith's Joseph Burr I'm an Arctic Winter Games and a long-time member of the Tyrrell School, the Tuktoyak- Hay River's Olympic biath- alumnus," he said. "For me, Arctic Winter Games family, tuk Siglit Drummers and lete Brendan Green also sent it led to a career in sport was also honoured with a spe- Dancers, and the K'atlodeeche <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">a message – recorded at the as well as three Winter cial tribute. </li><li style="flex:1">Drummers. </li></ul>4 ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 After the lighting of the Hay River cauldron for the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games, four youngsters, left to right, Nikhlin Kipling, Emrys Kipling, Carlyn Monkman and Annalee Monkman gathered for a photo. ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 5 Arctic Winter Games flame lit Numerous people, including many families, posed for pictures with the cauldron for the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games. One of the families consisted of, left to right, Emiliana Poitras-Dewar, David Dewar, Emmanuelle Poitras-Dewar, Emmy- lou Poitras-Dewar and Sarah Poitras-Dewar. Marie-Eve Larocque, the social media chair for the 2018 South Slave AWG, takes a photo at the lighting of the Hay River cauldron for the games. At the lighting of the Hay River cauldron for 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games were its builders, left to right, Jason Coakwell of Aurora Manufactur- ing; Shawn Demarcke, a gasfitter with Stittco Utilities; Rodney Burrows of Aurora Manufactur- ing; and Riley Boden of Mayor Brad Mapes oversaw the lighting on March 16 of the Hay River cauldron for the 2018 South Slave Arctic Winter Games. Aurora Manufacturing. Ceremony Feature by Paul Bickford Northern News services The ceremony was organized by Peter The flame for the Arctic Winter Games was Magill, the tourism and economic develop- <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">lit on March 16. </li><li style="flex:1">ment co-ordinator with the Town of Hay River. </li></ul>Magill said the flame will burn for the duration of the Arctic Winter Games. Actually, there were two flames – one in Hay River and the other in Fort Smith. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">The cauldrons were designed as two identi- </li><li style="flex:1">“And then these two cauldrons will be left </li></ul>cal halves of one united flame, representing the behind as a legacy piece for the two communtwo communities co-hosting the international ities,” he said, adding it will be a reminder of <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">sporting event from March 18 to March 24. </li><li style="flex:1">the 2018 games like the inukshuk is a reminder </li></ul>In Hay River, a crowd gathered to see a of the 1978 games co-hosted by Hay River and cauldron – the left side of the flame – lit next Pine Point. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">to the fire hall. </li><li style="flex:1">At the same time as the lighting of the </li></ul>Mayor Brad Mapes officiated at the light- cauldron in Hay River, Fort Smith Mayor Lynn ing of the cauldron, which stands over three Napier-Buckley was overseeing the lighting of metres high. the cauldron in her community. 6 ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 Watchful eye Yamal figure skating coach Alfia Babenko supervises her skaters during scheduled free time on sunday afternoon before heading to Hay River for the opening ceremonies. Paul Bannister/NNsL photo ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 7 Volleyball to debut at new curling club Dylan Short/nnSL photo Taylor McDonald looks to beat the block during a Team Alberta North practice. The Hay River Curling Club is set to serve as the venue for volleyball at the Arctic Winter Games. New venue described as ‘a little cold,’ but ‘amazing’ by Dylan Short tournaments. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Centre. </li><li style="flex:1">“The curlers were a little also has a really beautiful new to town say the venue </li></ul>is already providing a great Northern News services <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Volleyball will be the first </li><li style="flex:1">While many feel it would upset,” said volleyball chair venue.” </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">The Hay River Curl- sport played in the newly- have been ideal to open with Steve Campbell, “but they </li><li style="flex:1">While some curlers may atmosphere. </li></ul>ing Club is set to open this constructed, curling-specific curling in the new curling understand that although have been hesitant to give up week as it hosts the junior facility, within the brand club,FortSmithishostingthat Hay River would love to their facility to a new sport, Team Alberta North’s Please see page 8 <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">men and women’s volleyball new Hay River Recreation sport. </li><li style="flex:1">host every event, Fort Smith some athletes and coaches </li></ul>8 ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 'I’m really excited to be playing in the same venue that the food is in' are already enjoying the venue, the space is a little more Miller, outside hitter for Team Alberta North’s junior female cramped than a standard court. Normally, there are three volleyball team. “It’s a little cold but I think that it will be Continued from page 7 junior female volleyball squad practised Sunday morning to metres of free space on either side of the court’s boundaries, nice when we’re playing.” <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">the beat of DMX and the Black Eyed Peas in front of close but AWG athletes will only have two metres to work with </li><li style="flex:1">Miller also mentioned some upside. </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">to 50 spectators. </li><li style="flex:1">this year. </li><li style="flex:1">“I’m really excited to be playing in the same venue that the </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">“It’s amazing!” Erin Henning, the team’s coach, said of the </li><li style="flex:1">But for those that have already practised on the court, food is in,” she said. </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">building. “We didn’t know how they were going to set it up, the challenges of the new venue haven’t put a damper on the </li><li style="flex:1">The first game in the new club will see the Team North- </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">west Territories play Team Yukon on the men’s side on Mon- </li><li style="flex:1">so it’s better than we expected.” </li><li style="flex:1">excitement. </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Campbell said that while athletes, coaches and spectators </li><li style="flex:1">“It’s not really bothering me that much,” said Stephanie day at 9 a.m. </li></ul>ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 9 Paul Bannister/NNsL photo Greenland buses to hay river Team Greenland took one of 20 buses that shuttled athletes from Fort smith to Hay River for the AwG opening ceremonies on sunday. 10 ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 Meet Kechi, the AWG mascot Snowy owl set to spread cheer throughout the Games by Dylan Short female owl, as 11 is a master Northern News services number, according the host Kechi, the snowy owl society. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">mascot for the 2018 Arctic </li><li style="flex:1">“It is instinctual, charis- </li></ul>Winter Games, says her goals matic, dynamic and capable for the Games are to extend when its sights are set on positive energy and to make a concrete goal. It is also sure that everyone feels com- associated with faith, psych- <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">fortable. </li><li style="flex:1">ics, and strength,” the offi- </li></ul>“I want to spread cheer, to cial AWG website states in show comfort to people that regards to the dynamic numare nervous and uncomfort- eral. able in their new environment,” says Kechi. For those wanting to meet Kechi, the owl says that best Kechi – pronounced Kee- way to find her is to attend as chee – is the Cree word for many events throughout the power. The snowy owl was week as possible. The best selected as the official mas- way to make an impression cot by the AWG 2018 Host on this snowy owl is to offer Society board after a call to a high five, she reveals. the public prompted feedback from 80 people. The mascot will be accompanied this week by “The owl was chosen to her spirit squad, who will be represent wisdom, the over- teaching as many spectators seer, the wise one,” says as possible the Kechi dance. Joanne Fuller, director of the Those choreographed moves 2018 host society. “The owl were to be debuted at the NNsL file photo Kechi the snowy owl is the official mascot for the 2018 Arctic Winter Games. Her name is derived from the Cree word for power. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">sees all.” </li><li style="flex:1">opening ceremonies on Sun- </li></ul>Kechi is an 11-year-old day evening. ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 11 Another large contingent for Alberta North Close to 240 members head to NWT for 2018 Arctic Winter Games by James mcCarthy Northern News services Apart from the NWT, Team Alberta North had the least ground to cover to get to the 2018 Arctic Winter Games. After all, everyone who's part of the team is North of the 55th parallel. Alberta North has come with a total of 239 athletes, coaches, mission staff and cultural participants, and they are set to go. Jerry George is back as the team's chef de mission, a position he's occupied since 2012, and he said the excitement has been building for quite some time. "We had our big staging event back in February where the uniforms were handed out," he said. "I think the athletes realized then that this isn't just your run-of-the-mill tournament. It's a big event and I think they understood that." The team was assembled between November 2017 and this past January, and George said the provincial sport bodies did most of the legwork in getting things organized. Ron wassink/Arctic winter Games photo Team Alberta North's Mercedez Batke meets up with opposing goaltender Ayesha Barlas, of the NWT, during action at the 2016 Arctic Winter Games girls hockey tournament. Please see page 12 12 ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 'We have athletes and coaches from 36 communities' Yukon, Alberta North hasn't in most sports but we aren't sent a full delegation. They sending a full complement." "We work with the gov- will compete in 14 sports and Some examples of that are erning bodies in the province some of those sports won't in futsal, where there's just a "If we're hosting the Prairie and Fort McMurray Games, we will have a full – but those aren't the only contingent," said George. communities represented, "The capacity in some of our said George. Continued from page 11 " It's a big event and I think they understood that." <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">and they designate when their have full representation. </li><li style="flex:1">junior boys and junior girls </li><li style="flex:1">Northern communities just </li><li style="flex:1">"We have athletes and </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">trials are going to happen," he </li><li style="flex:1">"We don't have any teams team, and in hockey, which </li><li style="flex:1">isn't there so we try and put coaches from 36 commun- </li></ul><ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">together a list and group that's ities in total represented on </li><li style="flex:1">said. "We tried to co-ordinate in dog mushing and no basket- has no Alberta North midget </li></ul>schedules so there wasn't too ball teams," said George. boys team. They've also sent much of an impact to club "When the Games aren't in just 11 cross-country skiers, <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">manageable." </li><li style="flex:1">this year's team," he said. "It's </li></ul>A large majority of the not just the big cities and team comes from the major that's something we're very centres in the area – Grande proud of." <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">teams." </li><li style="flex:1">Alberta, we don't send a full even though the maximum a </li></ul>Unlike the NWT and contingent like others. We are team can have is 18. Jerry George ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 13 Speed skating kicks off Games in Smith Cody Punter/NNsL photo Anders John-Eric Petersson (Yukon) leads the pack, followed by Miles Brewster (Nunavut) and Rudi James Slagter (Northwest Territories) during the juvenile male speed skating semifinal on Sunday morning in Fort Smith. Medal rounds will begin today by Cody Punter Alaska, Alberta North, the Northern News services Yukon and Nunavut in the Short-track speed skating semifinals for what appears to was the first event to kick off be a tightly contested Monday the Arctic Winter Games in morning. Fort Smith on Sunday morning. The juvenile female 1,000- metre race saw competition Preliminary 1,000-metre in both the preliminaries and heats were held for both male semis wrapping up on Sunday. and females in the juvenile and Nunavut’s Emma Carpenter <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">junior categories. </li><li style="flex:1">had the fastest time in the </li></ul>Alberta North’s Teneea preliminary heats, clocking in Schoorlemmer set a blistering at 1:55.28. The semis saw the pace in her heat qualifying for Yukon’s Lisa Megan Freeman the junior female semifinals posting a time of 1:56.59, just with a time of 1:49.08, more three hundredths of a second than five seconds faster than quicker than Carpenter’s <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">her closest competitor. </li><li style="flex:1">second heat performance of </li></ul>There will be a total of 10 1:56.62, setting up an exciting competitors vying for a spot in showdown on Monday. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">the junior female final during </li><li style="flex:1">In the juvenile male heats </li></ul>the semis on Monday with four it was two brothers from the from the Northwest Territories, Yukon who positioned themthree from Alberta North, two selves as favourites for the from Nunavut and one from gold. After advancing to the <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">the Yukon set to compete. </li><li style="flex:1">semifinals, Lucas Taggart-Cox </li></ul>The Northwest Territor- and Caius Taggart-Cox posted ies’ Dalton McLeod narrowly times of 1:46.65 and 1:47.03, managed the fastest time in respectively, more than five the 1,000-metre junior male seconds faster than the other category. He clocked in at skaters. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">1:39.81 with a handful of skat- </li><li style="flex:1">The finals for all 1,000- </li></ul>ers behind him by just a few metre short-track races are seconds. McLeod will join 13 scheduled to get underway other skaters from the NWT, today. 14 ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 Yukon athlete looks Matt Jacobson practises the one-hand reach at the Fort to break record Smith recreation centre during a train- ing day for the 2018 Arctic Winter Games. Jacobson, who tied the AWG record in the one-hand reach in 2016, is hoping he can break the all-time best mark in front of Matt Jacobson will perform the one-hand reach in front of NWT family on Monday night family in Fort Smith. Cody Punter/NNsL photo by Cody Punter height of five feet, six inches. Northern News services But without the pressure of competition he was able to After tying the Arctic add an inch to his tally. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">Winter Games record for the </li><li style="flex:1">“He’s been pumped ever </li></ul>one-hand reach in Greenland since he set that record to go in 2016, the first thing Matt higher,” said Colin Hickman, Jacobson did was go back to Arctic sports coach for the the dorm to see if he could Yukon. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">best his result. </li><li style="flex:1">As he attempts to break </li></ul>During the competition Jacobson was able to reach a Please see page 17 ULU News, Monday, March 19, 2018 15 No passports, fewer issues photo courtesy of Rex willie Noah Qaunaq of Arctic Bay practises the snowsnake during the Dene games trials in Arctic Bay in January. Qaunaq will be competing in the open men’s division. Team Nunavut fields big squad for Arctic Winter Games by James mcCarthy peting in 13 sports over the Northern News services course of the six-day event, Seems it’s always easier while the cultural delegation when you’re competing in will have its big show in Fort your own country when it Smith on March 23. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">comes to preparation. </li><li style="flex:1">Most of the territorial trials </li></ul>That’s how it’s gone for took place a year in advance Team Nunavut as it gets set with some teams finalizing for the 2018 Arctic Winter their rosters in recent weeks Games. but dePeuter said there were Mariele dePeuter, in charge some welcome bumps in a of the team once again as the couple of sports. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">chef de mission, said every- </li><li style="flex:1">“Arctic sports and Dene </li></ul>thing was smooth in the days games is where we saw more leading up to the start of the participants, and that goes Games. back to the passport issue,” “We’re at the point where she said. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">it’s just the small details that </li><li style="flex:1">Athletes in various disci- </li></ul>need finalizing,” she said. plines got together in some “The big help this year is no fashion before the Games passports, which makes our began and that was thanks to <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">jobs a lot easier.” </li><li style="flex:1">the school break in February, </li></ul>Team Nunavut will number she added. <ul style="display: flex;"><li style="flex:1">246 people from 19 communi- </li><li style="flex:1">“A lot of sports took advan- </li></ul>ties. That total includes ath- tage of that break to have letes, coaches, mission staff camps or get together and and the cultural delegation, work on team building,” she which will be the Inuksuk said. Drum Dancers from Iqaluit.

Games Kick Off with a Party

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