The 2018 Dene Games Summit opening ceremonies kicked off two days of traditional games in Inuvik Sunday, Feb. 11.

The opening ceremonies featured talks from community leaders, drum dancing, game demonstrations, and more.

Student athletes from Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Paulatuk, Tsiigehtchic, Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok, and Newmarket, Ont., joined community members and East Three school officials for the ceremony in the East Three Elementary gymnasium to kick off the sixth annual summit.

Donald Kuptana, a summit official, said heSA国际影视传媒檚 been working with the youth for the last five years at the games and has seen them develop their skills and confidence over the years.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese games are probably one of the best tools that we have for developing our youth, helping them make healthier choices in life, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 so good to see,SA国际影视传媒� Kuptana said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just so proud of our youth. ISA国际影视传媒檝e seen them grow up and develop their skills and come out of their shells of being shy.SA国际影视传媒�

Approximately 200 youth will participate in the games, followed by a closing ceremony on Wednesday morning.

SA国际影视传媒淥ver the next few days, weSA国际影视传媒檙e going to have our youth from all these communities try the games out,SA国际影视传媒� Kuptana said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 so much fun to watch them do their best. We love to showcase our games, and demonstrate a little bit of our culture.SA国际影视传媒�

Along with a sense of cultural pride, Kuptana said the games carry on important traditions from the past.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we were younger, we played the games outside all the time. These guys, they donSA国际影视传媒檛 go out hunting every weekend, itSA国际影视传媒檚 just not that way anymore,SA国际影视传媒� Kuptana said. SA国际影视传媒淏ut, with these games, weSA国际影视传媒檙e bridging our way of life, on the land, to these youth through our games.SA国际影视传媒�

He added that some of the youth are surprised to learn that their parents played these games too.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese games are from their ancestry,SA国际影视传媒� Kuptana said. SA国际影视传媒淲henever I talk with some of these youth and about how their parents played these games too, theySA国际影视传媒檙e just happy. They didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know their parents played these games, too.SA国际影视传媒�

Kuptana said the games are important to connect youth to elders in the community.

SA国际影视传媒淭he best thing about our games is the interaction we have with our elders. Youth go up and talk to the elders, even just to tell the story about who they are,SA国际影视传媒� Kuptana said. SA国际影视传媒淲henever I see a kid getting a chair for an elder, that makes me so happy.SA国际影视传媒�

Kuptana credits the teachers at all of the community schools, as well as volunteers, for making the summit a reality.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 just like to thank all of the volunteers who make this event possible,SA国际影视传媒� Kuptana said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen we started this six years ago, we didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know it was going to be this strong. We wanted it to be, of course, but all the volunteers in the smaller communities make it possible for the youth to play these games.SA国际影视传媒�

Kuptana stressed the benefits of the games for youth in the communities.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 important to make new friends, get out of your silo, getting out to interact at a gathering where you have different kids from different communities,SA国际影视传媒� Kuptana said. SA国际影视传媒淎nybody can play these games, doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter if youSA国际影视传媒檙e aboriginal or not.SA国际影视传媒�